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New York's onion crop for 2002 is forecast at 3.03 million hundredweight (cwt), down 18 percent from last year's crop of 4.22 million cwt, according to the New York Agricultural Statistics Service. Hot and dry conditions caused low yields and pushed the maturity of the crop ahead of schedule, resulting in a higher percentage of small onions. In Orange County, a hail storm in April followed by four heavy frosts in May weakened plants and thinned the crop. In northern growing areas, the wet spring and frosts were followed by hot, dry weather. Large onions are demanding a premium price because of limited supply and growers are having a hard time marketing the large supply of smaller "boiler" onions.
 
 

U.S. summer storage onion production is forecast at 45.9 million hundredweight, down 2 percent from last year. Harvested acreage is forecast at 100,110 acres, 2 percent below 2001. The yield is unchanged from last year at 459 hundredweight per acre. The California summer storage onion crop is doing well and quality is good. Growers experienced good conditions during planting and crop development. Colorado conditions have been hot and dry this season, which has helped to lower insect and disease pressure and to aid harvest operations. Virtually all the crop is irrigated, but water shortages in the southeastern area have affected yields. The Idaho onion harvest is underway with 80 percent harvested as of September 30, 2002. Bulb size is smaller than last year with more medium sized onions being harvested due to cool spring temperatures followed by record heat during mid-July. Michigan's onion crop progressed well at the start, followed by hot and humid weather which caused a significant increase in foliar diseases during July. Harvest activity progressed with good quality but sizes are smaller due to the lack of moisture and heat stress. Most areas in Minnesota have been wetter than normal this year. Ohio onions are smaller in size due to hot, dry conditions during the growing season. Oregon is having a good season and reports a steady supply. Utah conditions are varied across the State. Washington experienced a few untimely cold snaps this spring that put the crop behind schedule. However, growers report good quality and more bulbs per acre, but slightly smaller bulb size than last year. Wisconsin's central and southern growing areas report lower yields and smaller sizes due to hot and dry conditions in July and August.

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