Acres for harvest, at 29,000, are 6 percent less than last year. The yield, at 440 cwt. per acre, is 10 cwt. Harvested acreage, at 80,330, is 4 percent more than last year, while the yield is 445 cwt. In Wisconsin, cool mid-August conditions promoted weed growth, but slowed onion development. Onion harvest in Michigan is underway.
Maturity is behind, but the crop outlook is excellent.
The yield is forecast at a record tying high due to moderate summer conditions. Dry conditions in New York did not necessarily hurt onion yields. Recent rainfall should help size onions and improve conditions. Harvest is to start about a week later than usual due to a wet, cool spring. Overabundance of precipitation in July and August resulted in disease problems for the Colorado crop.