Abstract For decades, the top producer of cranberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) worldwide was Massachusetts. Today, among the states that grow cranberries commercially, Massachusetts ranks second nationally in overall cranberry production, but last in crop yield. In this study, we explore the causes of low crop yields by analyzing multiple datasets, including 4‐year grower records for 213 beds (513 ha, or 11% of the state's cranberry acreage), to quantify the effects of cultivar, fertilizer use, pesticide applications, and irrigation management on crop yields. We find that low crop yields in Massachusetts are primarily due to the prevalence of native varieties, such as Early Black ( Y EB = 14.6 Mg ha −1 ). By comparison, Mullica Queen, a popular second‐generation hybrid cultivar, produces 229% more fruit ( Y MQ = 47.9 Mg ha −1 ) and receives 146% more nitrogen (N) fertilizer, but is managed similarly for phosphorus, pests, and irrigation. Collectively, these results point to better utilization and allocation of N fertilizer for reproductive growth in hybrid cultivars, such as Mullica Queen. An economic analysis of return on investment for renovating and replanting Early Black beds with Mullica Queen resulted in an 11‐year payback time, which was most sensitive to the price of cranberries, cost of replanting with Mullica Queen, and state‐funded renovation grants. Given the current economics of the cranberry industry, we question the long‐term viability of farms planted with Early Black and even Howes cranberries. With increased investments to support replanting of 20% of Early Black acreage with Mullica Queen, Massachusetts crop yields would increase by 25%.
Kennedy et al. (Thu,) studied this question.