VEGETABLES
Released October 9, 2001
Seasonal
No. 984-7-01

New York's onion crop for 2001 is forecast at 4.00 million hundredweight (cwt), down 14 percent from last year's crop of 4.67 million cwt, according to the New York Agricultural Statistics Service. The harvest is near completion. Most onions are still field curing and have not been moved into storage facilities. Growers indicate onion size ranges from small to average with very few large onions due to extremely dry conditions during the growing season. The lower production is due to dry weather causing more moderate yields. An expected harvested acreage of 12,500, is 200 acres higher than last year.
 
New York Onions By Area, 2000-2001

Summer storage onion production, including California, is forecast at 46.4 million hundredweight, down 9 percent from last year. Harvested acreage is forecast at 104,190 acres, 4 percent below 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. Harvest was completed by late September with no major problems and good quality reported. In Colorado, scattered thunderstorms dumped damaging hail on some areas along the Front Range. Following July, typical summer conditions, with high temperatures early in the day followed by thunderstorms, prevailed throughout the State. Idaho's weather has been warmer than normal and mostly dry during the month of September providing excellent harvest conditions. However, this warm, dry weather combined with minimal thrip and straw virus, reduced bulb size and yields. Michigan's onion crop got off to a cool, wet start, followed by hot, dry weather from July through mid-August. Harvest activity progressed with reasonable yields and good quality. Onions are smaller this year due to hot weather. In Minnesota, after a hot, dry summer, September weather conditions have been cooler with several rain showers. The Ohio crop is good with no problems reported. Onion harvest is in full swing throughout Oregon. Conditions remain hot and dry, although some parts of the State received precipitation the last week of September. The condition of Utah's onion crop is varied. Some growers have reported an above average crop. However, there were some complaints about damage from frost and strong winds. Washington bulb size is down slightly resulting from cool spring conditions. Onion quality has been good with a few selected fields experiencing hail damage from June storms. Timely rains in Wisconsin counteracted hot weather to produce average bulb size.
 

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