Snake River Produce of Nyssa, OR began digging the week of August. 1, the second earliest start since at least 17 years.

Murakami Produce, Ontario, OR., began digging on  time, August 8.

A few other Treasure Valley onion growers also started digging by the week of August 8.  However, Skeen Farms in Nyssa, OR didn’t get underway until about August 17.

Some onion shippers  started later than last year, but last year was one of the earliest start on the books.  This season is proving to be more average.

Acreage will likely be up slightly in the valley as a whole this season,  but Skeen Farms’ acreage is slightly below 2015.

Yields should be about average.

Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC, Idaho Falls, ID began digging onions in the Treasure Valley in light volume the week of August 1.  With some tight onion supplies, a number of operations started shipping product right way to the fresh market before moving onions into storage.

While onion acreage is up this season in the Treasure Valley, yields may end up being less from a year ago.

Owyhee Produce in Nyssa, OR started digging July 25, the company’s earliest start in 10 years.  The diggings got underway despite the company was still shipping its onions grown in California.  It did not appear to be presenting any problems, since similar to a lot of other larger operations, the company ships onions the year around.

Yields good to excellent at the beginning of the Treasure Valley season for Owyhee, after only average yields being reported at the beginning of the season.

The biggest challenge of the onion growing season in the Treasure Valley was the hot harvesting weather.  This led some crews having to harvest at night or in the early morning.

Idaho and Malheur County, OR onion shipments – grossing about $3400 to Chicago.