NZ: Disaster year for South Island onions
The cold, wet summer equals bad yields and also delays in harvesting.
Onion grower Tony Howey said the poor crop, coupled with bad markets, mean that this year will be one he wishes to forget.
"About three years out of five you have a bad year, about two years out of five you might have a good year and probably once every 10 years you have a disaster, and this is that year."
A moist January caused mildew to appear on many onions. Howey had to bypass some of his paddocks - simply leaving the onions on the ground.
He says he has lost around half of his yield, which will mean he will have gathered only 20 tonnes.
Europe, on the other hand, had an excellent time of it, onions wise, causing a glut on the international markets.
"It's one of those crops that are particularly vulnerable to the market, but compounding that was the wet season which impacted on the quality," Mr Howey said.
Source: www.stuff.co.nz
