ONION WORLD Voice of the Industry • OnionWorld.net
Vidalia's
Shuman Farms
Thrips Management • Stop the Rot Proposed Water Quality Regulations Advertiser Index AquaTech ................................ 23
L&M .......................................... 8
Bejo ........................................ 11
NOA ........................................ 11
Chinook Equipment ................ 10
Nunhems ................................ 11
Clearwater Supply .................. 19
Nutri-Cal ................................. 14
CMI ........................................... 7
Redwood Empire ...................... 9
Cropland Audits ........................ 9
Seed Dynamics ....................... 24
DP Seeds ................................. 16
Seedway ................................... 7
Gearmore ............................... 22
TKI............................................. 3
Gowan Seed ........................... 18
Top Air .................................... 17
Hansen Produce ..................... 23
Verbruggen ............................. 23
Kerian ..................................... 17
Weyns Farms .......................... 19
March/April 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ONION WORLD Volume 38, Number 3
MARCH/APRIL 2022
PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Telephone: (208) 520-6461 Circulation: (503) 724-3581
OnionWorld.net ONION WORLD CONTACTS
4 The Cost of a Quality Crop
Editor Denise Keller editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
8 FDA Proposes to Transfer Water Quality
Publisher / Advertising Manager Dave Alexander dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
Shuman Farms
Determination to Farms
Director of Operations Brian Feist brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
12 Growth Essentials Buyers' Guide
EDITORIAL INFORMATION
14 Crossing the Border
Annual Onion Event Moves to Idaho
16 Stop the Rot Halftime Report
News From the Stop the Rot Project on Onion Bacterial Diseases
18 Crunching the Numbers
An Economic Analysis of IPM-Based Thrips Management Strategies
Onion World is interested in newsworthy material related to onion production and marketing. Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com, or call (509) 697-9436.
ADVERTISING SALES For information on rates, mechanics, deadlines, list rental, direct mail, inserts or other information, call (208) 520-6461 or email: dave@onionworld.net
SUBSCRIPTIONS U.S. $24 per year Canada $40 per year Foreign $80 per year
Subscribe online at: www.OnionWorld.net/subscribe or call (503) 724-3581.
Mike Derie with Washington State University inoculates research plots in Pasco, Wash., with pathogenic bacteria in a 2021 trial to evaluate the efficacy of management practices and bactericides in treating bacterial diseases of onion. Read the Stop the Rot halftime report on page 16.
ON THE COVER
John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms, grows 600 acres of Vidalia onions in Reidsville, Ga. See the story on page 4. Photo courtesy Shuman Farms 2
Onion World • March / April 2022
DEPARTMENTS 10... New Products 21... Onion Weeds Quiz 22... In the News 22... Advertiser Index 23... Calendar
Email address changes/corrections to brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or mail to: Onion World PO Box 333 Roberts, ID 83444 Onion World magazine (ISSN 0892-578X), is published eight times a year and mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices. Produced by Columbia Media Group PO Box 333, Roberts, ID, 83444. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group. For information on reprints call (208) 520-6461.
calcium When you need it Where you need it
More about applying CaTs® (0-0-0-10S-6Ca) on onions: Calcium plays a major role in onion development and internal bulb quality. An adequate calcium supply improves cell wall strength, disease resistance, shelf life, and reduces storage shrink. The efficient liquid formulation of CaTs® can supply your crop with 100% soluble calcium and sulfur when and where you need it.
cropvitality.com
©2022 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved. CaTs® is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
SHUMAN FARMS
The Cost of a Quality Crop Story by Denise Keller, Editor Photos courtesy Shuman Farms
J
ohn Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms, wants customers to associate the “RealSweet” brand with consistently high quality premium sweet onions. But, these days, achieving that goal comes at a higher cost than ever before. Like most farms, Shuman Farms is challenged by the rising price of inputs and faced with the choice of cutting corners or cutting profits. Shuman Farms grows 600 acres of Vidalia onions in Reidsville, Georgia, imports 1,500 containers of sweet onions from Peru, and handles sales and marketing for three other Vidalia growers. This year, the operation’s greatest challenge is returning a profit in an inflationary environment. Every line item
Bagged onions make their way through the packing facility at Shuman Farms.
Buck Shuman (left) is pictured with his sons John Shuman (center) and Mark Shuman (right) in Shuman Farms’ Vidalia fields in the spring of 2018.
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Onion World • March / April 2022
cost the farm measures has increased, according to Shuman. “In your desire to produce the best product you can, you can’t cut a lot of corners. There’s a process and procedure you’re committed to and diligent in managing,” Shuman says. “But the challenge is how do you continue to service the needs of your crop when you’re faced with the cost structure of the new normal? It’s a challenge, and we’ve decided we’re going to tend to the needs of the crop and hope the market will support it.” At the end of the day, higher costs have to be passed on to the consumer, Shuman says. In the production of sweet onions, growers can also make up for increased costs by producing high yields and maximizing efficiency. “Volume solves a lot of problems. It dilutes a lot of costs on the farm and in the packing facility trying to become as efficient as you possibly can and getting as much volume through that system as efficiently as you possibly can,” he says. To increase efficiency, Shuman Farms
has made some capital expenditures and investments in the last five years including the installation of electronic sorters in the grading line and high-speed baggers in the consumer bagging lines. Rebuilding the Family Farm John Shuman is a second-generation onion grower. His dad, Buck Shuman, started farming peanuts, corn, soybeans, row crops and a mix of vegetables in the 1970s and added Vidalia sweet onions to the rotation in the 1980s. After falling on some financial hard times in the early 1990s, he became unable to continue farming in 1994. John was finishing college and had always wanted to get into the family business. “My siblings and I grew up around farming. We were immersed in it every day as kids. It’s a way of life. It becomes a culture. It becomes who you are. To me, it was a natural step to want to stay in the business,” Shuman recalls. With a desire to rebuild the family farm, Shuman began by selling onions for other Vidalia onion growers including
Vidalia onions are hand-harvested at Shuman Farms.
Onions are sized, graded and sorted before being packaged.
Sikes Farms, McLain Farms and Dry Branch Farms. Eventually, he was able to integrate back into farming. In the late 1990s, he created the RealSweet brand in order to communicate the sweet onion’s unique attributes to consumers. Today, Shuman Farms continues to handle sales and marketing for its own production as well as the original family of farms Shuman began working with in the ‘90s. Collectively, they grow, pack and ship more than 2,200 acres of Vidalia onions in a roughly 10,000-acre industry. “We decided 25 years ago that we could do more together than we could individually,” Shuman says. “And if you look at Shuman Farms and our RealSweet brand in the marketplace, I would say one of our most important assets that we have is our diversity in supply and our strength in numbers – our partners.” OnionWorld.net
5
SHUMAN FARMS
A crew undercuts Vidalia onion plants at harvest. The onions will dry in the sun for a few days before being clipped by hand and brought into the packing facility.
Supplying the Market The Vidalia onion season starts with sowing seed beds in mid-September to early October, followed by transplanting the onions in mid-November through mid-December. Planting is all done by hand. Following harvest in April and May, Shuman Farms plants soybeans or peanuts in June to be harvested in the fall. The high water and sugar content in Vidalia onions make them poor candidates for mechanical harvest. Therefore, the majority of the industry harvests the crop by hand, heavily depending on the H-2A guest-worker program for labor. Shuman Farms employs 120 of these workers during peak times, with labor being the top line item cost for the farm. Shuman says there is room for progress in the area of mechanizing harvest for premium sweet onions like Vidalias. In addition to the onions grown in the Vidalia region, Shuman Farms has been importing sweet onions from Peru since 1998. Peruvian sweet onions have
John Shuman markets onions under the “RealSweet” brand to communicate the Vidalia onion’s unique attributes to consumers.
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Onion World • March / April 2022
a flavor profile, color, shape and shelf life similar to Vidalia onions. And with the Peruvian season ending in mid- to late-March – just before the start of the Vidalia season in mid-April – Shuman Farms is able to offer customers a yearround supply of premium sweet onions. In 2020, Shuman Farms was selected by peers as the Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year, an honor John Shuman shares with the entire team at the farm, including his brother, Mark Shuman, who works as director of operations. Shuman Farms is also a member of the National Onion Association, and John is a past chair of the Vidalia Onion Committee and Southeast Produce Council. Looking ahead, Shuman hopes to see the industry continue to invest in research to develop successful new varieties of Vidalia sweet onions to stay relevant with consumers. “We need to be razor focused as an industry. Above and beyond everything, we need to be focused on delivering a premium, high quality sweet onion,” the grower says. “I think the Vidalia brand name is well known throughout North America. Consumers know it, they love it, and they trust it. From that regard, the Vidalia industry is well positioned to grow with the sweet onion category as a whole. And as consumer demand for fresh produce continues to grow, I think sweet onions are primely positioned to take advantage of that growth.” Vidalia onions grow in the sandy loam soil at Shuman Farms in southeast Georgia.
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7
FDA Proposes to Transfer Water Quality Determination to Farms By Joy Waite-Cusic, Associate Professor of Food Safety Systems, Oregon State University
O
n Dec. 6, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would substantially change the regulations related to the microbiological quality of agricultural water used in the production of fresh produce including onions. FDA is currently soliciting comments on the proposed regulation, and the docket (FDA-2021-N-0471) remains open until April 5, 2022. In late January, the enforcement period for agricultural water requirements for the largest farms began; however, FDA has indicated that it will use enforcement discretion during this active rulemaking period. In both the current and proposed rule, the underlying regulatory requirement for agricultural water quality remains the same: “All agricultural water must be safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use.” However, the burden for the determination of “safe and adequate sanitary quality” changes from FDA (in the current Produce Safety Rule) to the farm (in the proposed rule). This represents a complete shift in FDA’s approach to the regulation of farms and farm activities, which has until now been mostly prescriptive.
8
Onion World • March / April 2022
Agricultural Water Assessment
While the proposed regulation no longer requires water testing, it would require farms to conduct and document a holistic “agricultural water assessment” that is reassessed at least annually. These reassessments are prompted by the requirements for an annual inspection of the agricultural water system as well as a required maintenance system that includes regular monitoring of the agricultural water system to identify potential hazards. The proposed rule does include a few exemptions from the agricultural water assessment. Untreated ground water sources may qualify as exempt if they consistently have no detectable generic E. coli per 100 ml of water (testing required). Public water supplies are also exempt from the agricultural water assessment, but documentation of their compliance with other regulations is required. And finally, an exemption may be allowed if your agricultural water is treated, but there are other requirements for monitoring and documenting your water treatment system.
Drip tape delivers irrigation water to a field of onions.
Through the agricultural water assessment, FDA would expect farms to identify conditions that are reasonably likely to introduce hazards to produce or food contact surfaces because of their agricultural water system. The
assessment document is proposed to include five sections: description of water system, water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions and other relevant factors. The proposed rule includes specific details for the expected information within each of these sections. There are several of these detailed sections that are likely to be challenging to describe, evaluate and/or control on the farm. Farms would be expected to describe the degree of protection of the water system from possible contamination, including the impacts of other water users, animals (domestic and wild), adjacent and nearby land use, biological soil amendments of animal origin, and human waste. Farms would have to describe the frequency of heavy rain or other extreme weather events that could impact the water system (e.g., disrupting sediment) or covered produce (e.g., damage the edible portion). There is also an expectation of a description of crop characteristics, specifically related to the susceptibility of the produce to surface adhesion or internalization of microbial pathogens. Upon review of all the collected information, the agricultural water assessment would result in one of the following determinations: •No conditions that would introduce hazards have been identified. The water is safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use. •Conditions have been identified that may introduce hazards. The water may not be safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use. Mitigation may be necessary. •Conditions have been identified that do introduce hazards. The water is not safe, and the use of that water must be discontinued.
Additional Changes
The new proposed rule includes some slight changes to the mitigation measures to deal with potential microbial hazards in agricultural water. Of particular interest to the onion industry would be the use of a time interval between the last water application and harvest. There are now three approaches that can be used for determining an appropriate time interval. The first and simplest option is
to use a waiting period of at least four days. Farms may still use a time interval shorter than four days; however, the preamble of the proposed rule indicates that water testing would be necessary to support a time interval of fewer than four days. The final option would be an alternative time interval (e.g., field curing) that would have to be justified by other scientifically valid data. The proposed rule also includes changes to the timeline for a farm to respond to specific sources of contamination. For example, if the potential condition identified is related to animal activity, the farm would have to respond “promptly” and within the same growing season, whereas other conditions may be addressed less urgently, but no later than one year.
Comments
Commenting on the rule is a critical opportunity for farms to communicate their perceptions of the proposed rule. FDA has requested that stakeholders comment on things they like about the proposed rule and things that they would
Siphon tubes pull water from a canal into the furrows in a field of onions.
like changed. Basic guidelines for how to comment on the proposed rule are available from the Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety at https:// agsci.oregonstate.edu/sites/agscid7/ files/wrcefs/writing_effective_public_ comments_new.pdf.
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OnionWorld.net
9
NEW PRODUCTS
T-L Irrigation Introduces Pivot Options
T-L Irrigation Co. has introduced a gooseneck cradle corner system attachment option and a simplified auto-reverse system to add stability and durability to two pivot locations. The gooseneck corner cradle option drops the corner connection point by 24 inches. This lowers the corner span’s center of gravity, allowing for greater stability on steep terrain and in areas with high winds or frequent severe storm activity, according to the company. The simplified auto-reverse system incorporates over-centered actuation arms to change the position of the reversing valve. The over-center feature assures snap action and full engagement of the reversing valve. The arms have also been moved farther up the tower to prevent damage. Visit www.tlirr.com.
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Edp Electro-bagger model EB 2218 DF
This model now has the ability to do bags as well as cartons with the new touch screen controls. It also comes with pneumatic bag clamps as standard equipment.
For more information visit
chinookequipment.com or call 800-219-2245 or 208-331-1126
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Onion World • March / April 2022
Certis Rolls Out New Nematicide
Certis Biologicals has launched MeloCon LC, a water-dispersible concentrate containing spores from a naturally occurring soil fungus which controls a variety of harmful nematodes at every lifecycle stage. The improved liquid concentrate formulation of MeloCon LC provides greater convenience in storage, handling and tank-mixing and allows for application flexibility when fumigant and conventional chemistries cannot be applied, according to Certis. MeloCon LC is labeled for use in all states except California, with registration pending. Visit www.certisbio.com.
Nunhems Names New Variety
Nunhems has released its latest long-day yellow onion, Glorioso. The new variety will be available this growing season and provides tolerances to soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium and pink root. Nunhems describes Glorioso as an early-maturing variety of 114-118 days with excellent bolting tolerance during early sowings. Trim necks with upright foliage will work well for sprinkler or drip irrigation. Glorioso has a uniform shape and jumbo size. It has a golden skin color with good scale retention and a firm exterior suitable for bulk storage conditions, according to Nunhems. The new variety is suitable for northern latitudes such as Washington, Idaho, Oregon, North Dakota and the Northeastern U.S. Visit www.nunhems.com.
AREA SALES SPECIALISTS: Travis Whitney (WA, OR, CO) (509) 591-2948 Sarah Beaver (OR, ID) (208) 550-5565
NOA Summer Convention
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Boise, Idaho July 6-9, 2022
Grant Aitken (CA, NV) (209) 712-3665
Growing, learning, advocating
BASF Vegetable Seeds www.nunhemsusa.com
TOGETHER Watch for more info at:
onions-usa.org
Exploring nature never stops
BEJO ONIONS - LAYERS OF EXCELLENCE TANIA
RED SENSATION
ALISON
PIRATE
New short day yellow granex introduction: Strong upright tops with great plant habit. High yielding deeper granex shape, strong root system, and firm bulbs. Pink root and bolting resistance.
Early maturing grano red. Strong healthy tops. Pink root resistance. Excellent bulb firmness and color. Uniform round bulbs. Good internal color. Widely adapted across short day growing regions. High percentage single centers.
Late season short day yellow granex with upright tops. Deeper high yielding granex shape. Bolting resistance and very uniform. Strong outer skin layers. Produces well sized bulbs that result in good yields. Great option to fill later season slot in Vidalia.
Main Season short day yellow granex. Attractive lighter colored skin. Uniform and extra firm bulbs with high yielding deeper granex shape. High percentage of jumbos. Great post harvest appearance. A widely adapted variety across many short day regions.
Earliness: Early main Sowing period: 09-15 - 09-25 Taste: Sweet Pyruvates: 3.6 Lacrymatory Factor: 2.8 Shape: Granex IR: Foc; Pt
Earliness: Early Sowing period: 09-25 - 10-05 Taste: Very sweet Shape: Grano IR: Foc; Pt
Earliness: Late Sowing period: 09-25 - 10-05 Taste: Very sweet Pyruvates: 3.5 Lacrymatory Factor: 2.4 Shape: Granex IR: Foc; Pt
Earliness: Main Sowing period: 09-18 - 09-28 Taste: Sweet Pyruvates: 3.4 Lacrymatory Factor: 2.6 Shape: Granex IR: Foc; Pt
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GROWTH ESSENTIALS Buyers’ Guide Ferticell
• www.ferticellusa.com/ferticell-products
ProPrimer 2-0-0+F, Universal 0-0-1 & Pro K 0-0-20
New for 2022, ProPrimer 2-0-0+F is a fulvic acid, pending organic certification, to treat the soil in creating tolerance to oxidative stress and relieve abiotic stresses. It is used as a cold primer to increase tolerance to cooler growing temperatures. ProPrimer provides a plant-derived carbon and carbohydrate source. This will help a late-planted crop with quicker emergence. Improve emergence, build root development and better assimilate nutrients for larger, fuller roots with Universal 0-0-1, approved for organic use. It supports microbial associations with plant roots and the rhizosphere, enhancing the release and uptake of nutrients. An adequate potassium content of the bulb is vital for storage quality in onions. Increase bulb weight and Brix and improve water use efficiency with Pro K 0-0-20. Plant-available potassium is essential for chlorophyll production and will support microbial associations with plant roots and the rhizosphere.
Crop Vitality
• www.cropvitality.com
CaTs
CaTs is a 100 percent water-soluble calcium with a 0-0-10S-6Ca analysis. CaTs applied through the irrigation system can supply much needed calcium and sulfur at critical growth and uptake times. Recent onion trials with CaTs in the Pacific Northwest have shown both increased yields and improved storability.
ICL Specialty Products Inc.
• www.polysulphate.com
Polysulphate
Polysulphate is the only naturally occurring fertilizer delivering four essential nutrients, all in sulfate form: potassium, sulfur, magnesium and calcium. Every granule of Polysulphate contains naturally balanced nutrition for uniform distribution across fields and maximum soil productivity. Low chloride and pH neutral, Polysulphate is extremely safe and ensures onions reach their highest quality and yield potential. Polysulphate is well suited for blending with most standard fertilizers and is fully soluble.
Koch Agronomic Services SUPERU Premium Fertilizer
• www.superufertilizer.com
With the efficiency of SUPERU Premium Fertilizer from Koch Agronomic Services, you can protect your nitrogen investment from above- and below-ground losses. SUPERU is a granular, ready-to-use, stabilized urea-based fertilizer that utilizes exclusive N-Tegration Technology to integrate the active ingredients evenly into every granule. This means SUPERU provides consistent nutrient protection and allows for maximum nitrogen uptake. Featuring the highest concentration of nitrogen available in a finished fertilizer, SUPERU contains agronomically effective levels of both a urease and nitrification inhibitor to guard against nutrient loss, helping ensure your crop has nitrogen available when and where it needs it most.
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Onion World • March / April 2022
Nutri-Cal
• www.nutri-cal.com
Nutri-K
Nutri-K liquid potassium is a special formulation of highly soluble potassium, carboxylic acids and carbohydrates. The carboxylic acids and carbohydrates, which are the same complexing agents identified in the formulation of Nutri-Cal, are derived from plant extracts in a patented process. There are no nitrates, chlorides or sulfates. It has a low salt index and is therefore non-corrosive. The product works when the T.O.G. complexes the elemental potassium ion, which subsequently allows the ion to be absorbed directly and immediately through the leaf and fruit cell walls. Nutri-K T.O.G / liquid potassium complex provides a unique delivery system, which protects the potassium from forming an insoluble compound, enabling more efficient movement of potassium ion to the fruit/vegetable where it is needed most.
Omex
• www.omexusa.com
Cell Power N-Ergy
Improved nitrogen use efficiency in onion crops can reduce growers’ costs, optimize bulb quality and size, and help meet environment obligations. Onions exhibit poor nitrogen use efficiency due to their limited, shallow root system. Even alternative nitrogen fertilizers, such as urea, still result in nitrates leaching into groundwater. This is because the urea decomposes into nitrate before the crop can absorb it. In all crops, nitrate tends to promote vegetative growth (leaves) at the expense of reproductive growth (bulbs). For some crops, that’s not an issue; but in others, it’s difficult to find ways of avoiding the nitrate problem. So Omex has developed Cell Power N-Ergy, a specially complexed urea formulation that prevents the decomposition into nitrate. Direct foliar absorption of urea in onions is shown to increase leaf concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, improving photosynthesis and sugar production.
Oro Agri
• www.oroagriusa.com
Nanocal
Nanocal is a sub-micronized, soil-applied, readily available liquid calcium specifically formulated to be applied at bulb initiation to strengthen cell walls, improve bulb quality, increase specific gravity, mitigate storage issues and promote overall crop health. Nanocal should be applied just prior to or at the early stages of bulb initiation to ensure maximum calcium uptake during cellular division. It’s meant as a supplemental source of calcium available to plants during this critical stage of development; it’s not meant to remedy calcium deficiency in soils.
Stoller USA
• www.stollerusa.com
Row Crop Products
Stoller is a global plant science company focusing on maximizing productivity in plants using biostimulants, phytohormones, nutrition, small molecules, and plant extracts to manage abiotic stress and hormone balance in crops. For more than 50 years, Stoller has developed proven, innovative, quality solutions to offset crop yield losses by helping maximize the full genetic potential in plants and increasing yield and profit for progressive growers.
The Soil Doc
• www.thesoildoc.net
Chicken Soup for the Soil
Chicken Soup for the Soil contains all natural ingredients such as alfalfa meal, molasses and seaweed extract that will cultivate the soil ecosystem and allow plants to meet maximum genetic potential. These ingredients were selected and balanced so your plants can reap the benefits and yield an excellent crop. OnionWorld.net
13
Crossing the Border Annual Onion Event Moves to Idaho Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher
T
he 62nd annual meeting of the Idaho and Malheur County Onion Growers’ Associations was held in person on Feb. 1 in Nampa, Idaho. The meeting, which features 50 busy trade show booths and presentations from university researchers and others, moved across the state borderline from its usual venue in Ontario, Oregon. Organizer and executive director of the Idaho Onion Growers’ Association, Rick Waitley, said the decision to move the meeting was made in October by the association board due to COVID-19 uncertainty. Board members were unsure if they would be able to hold the event without vaccination cards or masks, and they did not want to have to require either of those. The trade show booths are always sold out, and the change of locations didn’t change that. Many equipment, chemical and seed companies were represented including Nunhems and Vegetables by Bayer (Seminis), which both displayed
new onion varieties that will be available this year. Glorioso from Nunhems has been developed for the northern latitudes. It is an early-maturing (114-118 days) yellow storage variety featuring good scale retention, a smaller neck for overhead irrigation, and tolerance to Fusarium and pink root. Seminis displayed two new varieties in Nampa. Dovetailing on the successful recent launches of Tucannon and Crusher, the new Hatchet fits in with those varieties, but matures later with consistent single centers. New Almanzoro is primarily a long-term storage and retail yellow jumbo. Nampa is at the edge of the Idaho and Malheur County onion growing area, so the plan is to return to Ontario, which is more centrally located, on Feb. 7, 2023. To get on the waiting list for a 2023 trade show booth, email Waitley at rick@ agmidaho.com.
Nunhems’ new variety Glorioso promises to work well in the Pacific Northwest.
Vegetables by Bayer (Seminis) introduces two new varieties in 2022, Hatchet (left) and Almanzoro.
The NUTRI-CAL Difference Unlocking The Key To Calcium INCREASES OVERALL ONION YIELD
PROVIDES LONGER STORAGE QUALITY • REDUCES INTERNAL DEFECTS AND WEIGHT LOSS
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Onion World • March / April 2022
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CHEMPORT, INC. 800-247-2480
Hall of Fame
In recognition of their involvement in the onion industry, Jon Watson and Jim Farmer were inducted into the Treasure Valley Onion Hall of Fame during the annual meeting of the Idaho and Malheur County Onion Growers’ Associations.
Jon Watson
Jon Watson, president of JC Watson Packing Company in Parma, Idaho, was honored for his involvement in the community, outspoken views and dedication to the industry. Growing up in Parma, Watson was involved with the family farm from an early age. After graduating from the University of Idaho in 1972, he returned to work for the family business full time. Watson narrowed the company’s scope to focus exclusively on onions. The company remains a familyowned and operated grower, packer and shipper of onions. Watson served on the Idaho-Oregon Fruit and Vegetable Association board of directors and as association president from 1982 to 1983. He has served on the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Marketing Order Committee since 1989 and also serves on the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Promotion Committee. In 2009, he co-chaired the Treasure Valley Ag Coalition to keep the University of Idaho Parma Research Station open.
Jim Farmer
Jim Farmer, president of Fort Boise Produce, was raised on a 365-acre farm in Nyssa, Oregon, and raised his family on the same farm. Following graduation from the University of Utah in 1973, he worked in accounting, including for the J. R. Simplot Company. Jim and his brother Warren began growing onions in 1978. Today, they farm 3,000 acres as Deseret Farms. The two brothers helped found Fort Boise Produce in 1982 in Apple Valley, Idaho. In 1985, Fort Boise built a new packing shed in Nyssa, Oregon, and a modern packing shed on the Idaho side of the Snake River in 2004. Fort Boise currently operates both facilities. Farmer served on the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Promotion Committee for several years, as well as the board of the Idaho-Oregon Fruit and Vegetable Association and as association president from 1999 to 2000. He also served on the board of Northwest Farm Credit Services for 10 years.
Treasure Valley Onion Hall of Fame inductees Jon Watson and Jim Farmer display their awards.
OnionWorld.net
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Stop the Rot Halftime Report
News From the Stop the Rot Project on Onion Bacterial Diseases By Heather MacKay and Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University; and Christy Hoepting, Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program
F
ield trials across multiple states in the first two years of the four-year Stop the Rot project have investigated the impacts of irrigation practices, fertility practices, cultural practices, bactericides and postharvest disinfectant applications on development of onion bacterial diseases. These trials have evaluated practices and products currently used by onion growers so that we can address stakeholder priorities and concerns about bacterial diseases of onion. Valuable results with immediate potential application have been published. The results can be found in the reports shared on our website at www.alliumnet.com/stop-the-rotpublications-and-resources. These early results demonstrate the importance of moisture in the crop over the growing season as a major influence on bacterial diseases of onion and will be a fruitful area of focus for field trials in years three and four of the project. Trials in Georgia, New York and Washington state that are evaluating modifications to cultural practices such as the timing of topping and undercutting, neck length after topping,
methods of harvest, and postharvest curing practices also show a lot of potential for reducing losses to bacterial rots of onion bulbs.
Alliumnet Website Gets Fresh Look, New Content
Alliumnet is a collaborative website focused on supporting the production of Allium species in the United States. The Alliumnet website was created over 10 years ago under the leadership of Dr. Howard Schwartz at Colorado State University before he retired. The website has been maintained over the long term to provide a home for national onion research collaborations (including USDA projects), information and proceedings associated with the National Allium Research Conference, links to onion industry meetings and events, and reports, activities and meeting details for the W-1008, W-2008 and W-3008 multistate onion projects. The website was redesigned and updated significantly over the past year based on input from a User Reference group established within the SCRI Stop the Rot research project. The revised website is now live and contains information on the latest research, resources for diagnosing diseases and other onion problems, links to regional extension resources, grower associations’ notices about upcoming scientific meetings and archives of prior research meetings. Please send your comments and suggestions on the layout and content to webmaster@bugwood.org. The Alliumnet.com website is developed, maintained and hosted by the Southern IPM Center and the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia. Authors’ note: Stop the Rot is a four-year, multistate project funded by the Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI) of the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture as Project No. 2019-51181-30013. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Learn More About Stop the Rot •Read the most recent reports, extension bulletins and scientific articles on the Resources page of our website at www.alliumnet.com/stop-therot-publications-and-resources. •Find more information about the project at www.alliumnet.com/stop-the-rot. •Watch videos developed by project members on YouTube. •Email stoptherot.project@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list for project updates and information. 16
Onion World • March / April 2022
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THRIPS MANAGEMENT
Crunching the Numbers
An Economic Analysis of IPM-Based Thrips Management Strategies By Gina Greenway, Greenway Research Erik Feibert, Malheur Experiment Station, Oregon State University
I
f asked to describe the 2021 growing season, the word “up” comes to mind. Fertilizer, fuel, drip irrigation supplies, labor and equipment prices all went up during the 2021 crop cycle. There is no way to know exactly what 2022 will bring, but the concern is that “up” could once again be the theme. The question that is most often asked, yet is difficult to answer, is what can be done to mitigate the rising costs of production? Regardless of the economic climate, it never hurts to sharpen our pencils. Judicious farm management can help ensure we only use the inputs we need when we need them. On a national scale, the USDA prices paid index for nitrogenbased fertilizers was up 39 percent from September 2020 to September 2021. As
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a result of the steep increases in 2021 and unpredictability surrounding 2022, one priority will be to make sure we are getting the most from our fertilizer dollars. Budgeting for and investing in soil tests is always a good recommendation because fertility needs will vary with location and soil type. Determining precise nutrient needs can help us make sure we aren’t over- or under-applying amendments, which makes good economic sense. Thrips management is another area where judicious strategy can pay off. The cost of insecticides for a single thripstargeted application can range from $12 to $58 per acre depending on product choice and application rate. The average cost of the most widely used products
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Onion World • March / April 2022
is about $33 per acre. Add the cost of adjuvants, labor and fuel for the spray rig, or the cost of a custom application, to the cost of materials, and it’s easy to see a penny saved is a penny earned. However, there are tradeoffs associated with any management decision, and careful consideration must be given to ensure any savings from reduced input use are not offset by reductions in yield and quality.
Field Trial
A 2020 field trial from the Malheur County Experiment Station provides insight on the topic of fertilization, thrips management and yield outcomes. The research sought to determine if threshold-based insecticide treatments and reduced nitrogen fertilization could improve thrips control without affecting yield of dry bulb onions. We used data from the experiment to conduct an economic analysis of the various management strategies. The experiment was designed to evaluate two levels of nitrogen fertilization and three levels of insecticide treatments. Soil and tissue tests were used to determine the nitrogen requirements used in the standard fertilization program. A total of 120 pounds (per acre) of in-season nitrogen was applied in the standard treatment. A total of 50 pounds (per acre) of in-season nitrogen was applied in the reduced treatment. Insecticide treatments included a calendar-based weekly application program, an integrated pest management (IPM) action-based threshold program and an untreated control. The action-based spray program
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used a threshold of one thrips per leaf. Sampling protocol and full details of the experiment are available at https://agsci. oregonstate.edu/system/files/r_ipm_ report_2020.pdf. The reduced and standard nitrogen treatments received a total of seven insecticide applications in the calendarbased insecticide program (Table 1). Five total insecticide applications were used in the IPM program with reduced nitrogen fertilization (Table 2). Six total insecticide applications were applied in the IPM program with standard nitrogen fertilization (Table 3).
Methods
Six budgets were constructed to evaluate the economic impacts of each treatment considered in the field trial. Some simplifying assumptions were made to assist in the analysis. All fixed and variable cost data except in-season nitrogen fertilization and insecticide treatments were taken from the 2021 cost of onion production estimates for Malheur County, Oregon. The fertilization and insecticide cost estimates used in the budgets were based on specific treatment applied. Nitrogen costs were based on fall 2021 pricing, as were insecticide treatment costs. Using pricing estimates from 2021 allowed for evaluation of how various management changes could impact profit during periods of high inputs costs. Total revenue was calculated by combining the estimated marketable yields by size class from each treatment with historical pricing from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Market News Reports. The three-year season average (2018-2020) of weekly high and low FOB prices by size class for 50-pound sacks of yellow onions shipped from Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon, were applied. Profit was calculated by subtracting total revenue from total costs.
Table 1. Calendar-based insecticide program with standard and reduced nitrogen fertilization
Product Movento Aza-Direct Dyn-amic Movento Aza-Direct Dyn-amic Agrimek Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Agrimek Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Radiant Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Radiant Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Exirel Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Total Number of Insecticide Apps
Rate 2.5 16 0.7 2.5 16 0.7 3.5
fl. oz fl. oz pt fl. oz fl. oz pt fl. oz
3.5
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8
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8
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Table 2. IPM (threshold-based) insecticide program with reduced nitrogen fertilization
Product Movento Aza-Direct Dyn-amic Movento Aza-Direct Dyn-amic Agrimek Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Agrimek Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Radiant Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Total Number of Insecticide Apps
Rate 2.5 16 0.7 2.5 16 0.7 3.5
fl. oz fl. oz pt fl. oz fl. oz pt fl. oz
3.5
fl. oz
8
fl. oz
5
7
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All insecticide treatments produced higher profit than the untreated controls. The greatest profit resulted from the standard nitrogen fertilization program in combination with the action thresholdbased (IPM) thrips management program. In this study, the percentage of OnionWorld.net
19
THRIPS MANAGEMENT bulbs grading in the larger size categories was greater with standard nitrogen programs than in the reduced nitrogen programs, but the differences were not statistically significant. Even though the IPM program with standard nitrogen fertilization received fewer spray applications, it produced higher total revenue than any other treatment. Fewer insecticide applications did not negatively impact yields in this experiment. The standard nitrogen fertilization and IPM-based spray program resulted in an estimated profit that was $140 per acre greater than the standard nitrogen fertilization and calendar-based spray program. When compared to the control that used standard nitrogen fertilization, the IPM program with standard fertilization produced $374 more per acre in profit.
Table 3. IPM (threshold-based) insecticide program with standard nitrogen fertilization
Product Movento Aza-Direct Dyn-amic Movento Aza-Direct Dyn-amic Agrimek Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Agrimek Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Radiant Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Radiant Dyn-amic 0.25% V/V Total Number of Insecticide Apps
Conclusion
Results of this analysis suggest implementing IPM-based approaches to thrips management could reduce costs and improve profit. However, the data presented in this article only represent one growing season and a specific
Rate 2.5 16 0.7 2.5 16 0.7 3.5
fl. oz fl. oz pt fl. oz fl. oz pt fl. oz
3.5
fl. oz
8
fl. oz
8
fl. oz
6 Authors’ note: This work is supported by Specialty Crop Research Imitative grant # 2018-51181-28435 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
geographic location. Future research in subsequent crop cycles will provide more data for evaluation of approaches to IPMbased thrips management strategies.
Profit Comparison ($/acre) by treatment $2,100
$1,958 $1,818
$1,900
$1,759 $1,681
$1,700
$1,584
$1,500
$1,300
$1,100
$900
$786
$700
$500
20
Standard N IPM
Standard N Calendar
Onion World • March / April 2022
Reduced N Calendar
Reduced N IPM
Standard N Control
Reduced N control
Onion Weeds Quiz
This material is provided courtesy of Joel Felix, Associate Professor, Weed Ecology & Management, Oregon State University Malheur Experiment Station.
Gaining the upper hand in weed control starts with identifying the problem. The photos below show a type of weed that can invade onion fields. Can you identify the weed? Answers on page 23
A
B
C
OnionWorld.net
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IN THE NEWS
Stokes Seeds Adds Staff in Southeast
Stokes Seeds has hired Eric Zunica as product development manager for the southeast U.S. region, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Zunica will be responsible for testing and identifying new products for introduction to the Stokes Seeds product line and ensuring regional and local adaptability. Zunica has a bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of Florida and extensive experience in commercial vegetable production. He also brings farm management experience in areas including equipment, fertilizer, irrigation systems, integrated pest management programs and food safety.
Sakata Expands Research Department
Sakata Seed America has hired John Lindbo as the company’s senior biotechnology manager. Lindbo will lead efforts in markerassisted selection, marker discovery and a new tissue culture lab for developing di-haploid lines in multiple crops. Lindbo has a doctorate degree in microbiology from Oregon State University and a post-doc from the University of California-Davis. His career in plants and biotechnology has included teaching, researching, managing a molecular marker program and labs, and developing tools, techniques and traits for use in plant breeding.
Sakata Selects COO
Sakata Seed America has appointed Eduardo Flores as the company’s new chief operations officer (COO). Flores will handle Sakata’s logistics, operations and seed production activity in North America and Central America. Flores brings experience leading supply chain operations for vegetables seeds, having served as regional operations director for Monsanto’s North American vegetables business. Most recently, he led global strategy for Dummen Orange, a Netherlandsbased ornamentals company. Flores has an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is fluent in Spanish and English.
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Onion World • March / April 2022
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Onion Quiz Answers
Passion in Drip Irrigation!
From page 21
The photos all depict kochia (Bassia scoparia). Photos A, B and C show the seedling, mature plants growing along the fence line and a seedling trail in an onion field, respectively. Kochia is a tumble weed, which can travel a great length of a field or fields while shedding seeds as it goes along (photo C). The zigzagging in a field depends on the wind direction while the plant is “moving” across the field. Kochia is among a few plants capable of “movement.” Kochia populations across the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest regions have developed resistance to glyphosate (the chemical found in Roundup-type products), necessitating the use of other chemical or mechanical control.
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