Harvested acreage is estimated to be the same as last year, but with significantly lower yields due to the drought. Yields are expected to dip down to 265 cwt per acre this year compared to 300 cwt in both 1998 and 1997.
Reports indicate dry soil and small to average onion size statewide.
Harvested acreage, at 82,550, is down slightly from last year, and yield, at 442 cwt per acre, is 11 cwt more than in 1998. Washington is expecting smaller sized onions than normal due to a late cool spring that delayed crop development two weeks. A wet, cool spring delayed planting in Oregon, but even with the late start preliminary yields are higher. Oregon weather conditions improved later in the summer. Southeastern Colorado experienced localized flooding in mid-July.