The prolonged dry weather is taking its toll on crops across the UK, and onions are no different. Growers are predicting lower yields for the coming season and some harvests have had to be delayed because the ground is too hard.
“We have had a relentless period of hot, dry weather, we had just about gotten over the first heatwave but we now are faced with more high temperatures,” said Tim Elcombe, Chairman of British Onions. “Most of the early sets are in, but growers have run out of water and have had to stop or reduce irrigation.”
The main crop will start at the end of August but Tim admits it’s not looking great.
“We are already predicting lower yields, a reduction 20-25% which means volumes will be down by around 100,000 tonnes. It is a really telling time with so many permutations such as big increases in cost, combined with low yields and high irrigation costs and high, unpredictable storage costs.”
“We are not sure how it will all pan out, but it will certainly be a tough season for all growers and not only onion growers.”
For more information:
Tim Elcombe
British Onions
tim.elcombe@bedgrow.co.uk