Return to TFB Main Page
Return to Texas Agriculture Archive

February 2, 2001

Onion crop progressing well

The Texas onion crop is progressing well with the help of increased moisture and cool temperatures, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reported the week of Jan. 22.

Extension economist Joe Pena of Uvalde said despite a late start for some of the crop in Southwest Texas's Winter Garden, the outlook for Texas onions is favorable.

He said onions grow best under cool, moist conditions from planting through early growth and warm, dry conditions during maturity.

"The cool weather will help the crop to fertilize well," Pena said. "Rains have brought excellent moisture, and there is certainly the potential for a good crop."

He said as long as temperatures do not become too severe, onions will be in good condition. Bulbing does not occur at temperatures below 50 degrees.

Eighty percent of the state's onions are grown in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Other production regions include Far West Texas, the Winter Garden and the Plains.

Pena said planted acreage in Southwest Texas's Winter Garden is down due to excessive moisture in October, November and December.

"Onions were planted late as a result of wet fields," he said. "Many producers waited until December to plant, but November is the ideal time in the Winter Garden. So many got a late start, and about 100 acres were never planted."

Texas producers are expected to harvest 13,800 acres of spring onions this year, 5 percent less than last year's crop of 14,500 acres, according to the Texas Agricultural Statistics Service.

Harvest will begin in the Rio Grande Valley in March and will continue to the north through June or early July.

Texas ranks sixth in national onion production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

District Extension director Dr. Bob Robinson of Amarillo said four to eight inches of snow fell the week of Jan. 15 across the Panhandle.

"The heaviest amounts occurred in the northwestern part of the Panhandle," he said. "Soil moisture continues to improve, but wet fields are allowing for little land preparation."

Robinson said wheat is rated poor to good and is dormant. He said range conditions are also poor to good.

"Range land soil moisture levels are improving with frequent snows," he said. "And, heavy supplemental feeding continues."

District Extension director Randy Upshaw of Dallas said soil moisture is also improving in North Texas.

"The slow precipitation is helping, but it is still too wet for much activity," he said. "Damage from December ice storms is still being cleared."

Pastures are saturated.

"Haying and heavy supplemental feeding continues," he said. "The hay supply is rapidly dwindling, but most cattle are still in good shape."

Upshaw said electrical outages have affected the milking schedules of dairy cows.

"Hopefully, mastitis will not become a problem due to disrupted milking schedules," he said.