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Released: September 2001
Seasonal
No. 984-6-01

New York storage onion production for 2001 is forecast at 4.06 million hundredweight, down 13 percent from last year and up 15 percent from 1999. Harvested acreage is estimated at 12,700 acres, up 3 percent from last year. Yields are expected to hit 320 cwt. per acre this year compared to 380 cwt. in 2000 and 280 in 1999. The New York muck regions report hot, dry conditions which are causing small bulb size and low soil moisture. New York growers report that a third of the onions are small and two-thirds are average size.

Storage Onions: National production of summer storage onions (including California) is forecast at 47.0 million cwt, 8 percent less than 2000 and 16 percent below 1999. Harvested acreage, at 104,890, is down 3 percent from last year, and yield, at 448 cwt per acre, is 23 cwt less than in 2000. California growers reduced acreage as a result of poor prices in 2000. In addition, cold winter weather slowed planting and growth of the crop. Colorado growers have experienced normal weather conditions during the past two months and are expecting a good crop. Idaho growers report the size of onion bulbs is smaller due to drought conditions. Oregon growers report lower yields due to dry conditions. The Washington onion crop is slightly behind schedule due to cooler than normal spring temperatures.

Snap Beans: New York snap bean production is forecast at 71,400 tons, up 4 percent from 2000. Yield is expected to decrease 11 percent from last year to 3.0 tons per acre. Contracted acreage increased from 20,200 to 23,800. New York growers report lower yields resulting from dry conditions.

Nationally, contracted production of snap beans is forecast at 670,790 tons, down 13 percent from last year's comparable States. Based on comparable States between 2000 and 2001 a 5 percent decrease in contracted harvested acreage accompanied a 0.32 ton per acre decrease in yield. Growers in the Willamette Valley of Oregon report above average yields due to excellent weather conditions this season. Hot and dry weather in Wisconsin during July and continuing through the first week of August is causing reduced yields. Additionally, the hot weather caused staggered plantings to mature simultaneously causing processors difficulty harvesting and processing large amounts of snap beans during a shorter period of time.

Sweet Corn: New York sweet corn for processing is expected to decrease again this year, with production estimates down 19 percent from last year to 124,800 tons, and down 30 percent from 1999. Harvested acres increased from 29,000 contracted acres last year to 31,200 this year. Yield is expected to be very low due to drought conditions. New York yields are low because of drought conditions.

Across the U.S., expected Contracted sweet corn production is forecast at 3.04 million tons, down 4 percent from last year. A 3 percent decrease in contracted harvested acreage accompanies a 0.06 ton per acre decrease in yield when comparing the 2001 season to 2000. Illinois reports a good crop with average yields. Minnesota had a wet spring followed by several weeks of hot and dry conditions causing the crop to mature unevenly. Oregon yields are above average this year due to ideal weather conditions in the Willamette Valley where most vegetables are grown. On Washington's westside, harvest was expected to be a week to ten days behind normal. In the Quincy area, winds have been prevalent this year, challenging crop development. Wisconsin got a late start because cool and wet weather delayed planting and slowed development. Conditions then became hot and dry, further challenging crop development and reducing yields.

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