ONION WORLD Voice of the Industry • OnionWorld.net • May / June 2020 Voice of the Industry • OnionWorld.net • May / June 2020
Variety Buyers' Guide
For the Advertiser Index click here
Bouncing Back Getting the Good Bugs Vidalia Honors Growers
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Thrips (thrips tabaci) on Onions WSU Pasco Research Farm, WA - 2019 Application and evaluation
Sum of Thrips
Number Count
120
a
100
b
b
b
b
b
b
• 8 product applications • Thrips count evaluations: • Jun 5, 10, 17, 24; • Jul 1, 8, 15, 22, 31
b b
Equipment:
60
• Foliar applicator, spray volume = 30 GPA • All products were applied with BRANDT 719 at 1pt/100gal
40
Statistical Analysis:
80
• P=0.1 Student-NewmanKeuls test) No phytotoxicity observed
20
Untreated Check
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Table of Contents Magazines For Maximum Yield
ONION WORLD Volume 36, Number 4
May / June 2020
PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Telephone: (208) 520-6461
www.O n i o n W o r l d .n e t Onion World Contacts
6 Bouncing Back
Publisher / Advertising Manager Dave Alexander dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
Utah Onion Association Winter Meeting
Editor Denise Keller editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
8 Getting the Good Bugs
The Amazing World of Natural Enemies
Director of Operations Brian Feist brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
12 Vidalia Honors Growers
Vidalia Onion Committee Annual Meeting
14 Short- and Intermediate-Day Onion Variety Update Buyers' Guide
24 New Zealand and Australia:
EDITORIAL INFORMATION 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
Exports of Fresh Onions, Shallots Trade Trends
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 Payments may be made by check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
“Mummies” of parasitized aphids remain after the parasitoid’s eggs hatch and the developing larva consume the aphids. See the story on page 8. Photo courtesy Thelma Heidel-Baker
On the Cover Red Ranger, a late-maturing short-day onion from Crookham Company, is one of dozens of varieties featured in the Short- and Intermediate-Day Onion Variety Update on pages 14-21. Photo courtesy Crookham Company
4
Onion World • May / June 2020
Departments 22 23 26 26 27
Insect Quiz In the News Calendar From the NOA New Products
Subscribe online at: www.OnionWorld.net or call (503) 724-3581. Email address changes/corrections to brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or mail to: Onion World PO Box 333 Roberts, ID 83444 Onion World magazine (ISSN 1071-6653), 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 2020. 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.
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Bouncing Back By Dan Drost, Utah State University Photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher
O
nion crop health and management approaches were the highlighted topics covered during the 2020 Utah Onion Association winter meeting held Feb. 11 in Brigham City, Utah. The growers had a lot to talk about as 2019 was a year of trials and frustrations. Most indicated that the late planting dates and generally poor finish to the year resulted in lower than expected yields and difficulties in storage.
Irrigation Issues
Cody Zesiger and Niel Allen, Utah State University (USU) irrigation specialists, reported on the 2019 Onion Water Use project. “Utah House Bill 381 provided funding to assess applicable agriculture irrigation technologies to help Utah farmers save water while maintaining productivity and profitability,” Zesiger reported. Onions were one of the crops chosen to document consumptive water use in drip- or furrow-irrigated fields. After describing the trial setup, Zesiger went on to highlight differences between the furrow- and drip-irrigated sites. He noted that in the furrow-irrigated field, “total application was quite high, with each irrigation delivering 5 to 6 inches of water. This resulted in both deep percolation and some surface runoff at the end of the field.” In contrast, “drip used significantly less water, had no deep percolation or runoff, and had a calculated ET of 15 inches of water over the 70-day irrigation period,” he said. While the two fields evaluated did not differ greatly in yield, they were not directly comparable as soil type, variety grown and harvest dates varied greatly. The study will be repeated in 2020 with additional field sites monitored. Findings will be shared with the industry at the summer field tour and again at the winter meetings.
6
Onion World • May / June 2020
Claudia Nischwitz warns growers in Utah to be on the lookout for allium leafminers.
Corey Ransom stresses the importance of pre-treatment with herbicides for yield at the Utah Onion Association winter meeting in February.
Stop the Rot
Claudia Nischwitz, a USU plant pathologist, provided the growers with two talks on onion disease management. In her first presentation, she introduced the growers to the “Stop the Rot” project. In 2019, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded Washington State University with $4 million to identify and manage bacterial diseases that impact onions in the field and storage. Onions have a gate value of $925 million in the U.S. and are grown on more than 140,000 acres, and bacterial pathogens cause more than $60 million in losses to the industry each year. Utah State University and the Utah Onion Association are participating in this project. During the 2020-2022 production seasons, USU researchers, in cooperation with interested local growers, will survey onion fields for bacterial diseases, identify pathogens found and then develop strategies to better manage them. “With this study, Utah growers will now know what problems are out there and how to mitigate the risk both in the field and in storage. This should help improve onion sustainability and profitability,” Nischwitz said.
On the Lookout for Leafminers In her second presentation, Nischwitz described USU efforts to identify and document the extent of leafminer injury
Dan Drost explains his study on plant emergence uniformity to meeting attendees in Brigham City, Utah.
in Utah-grown onions. Leafminer commonly found in Utah onion fields are Liriomyza and Hydrellia species. However, the extent of damage and impacts on productivity are less well known. Nischwitz was able to secure a specialty crop block grant from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to monitor leafminer and create a sampling approach for detecting them. This work is to help create a system to address the more serious allium leafminer, should it arrive in Utah. “Growers should be on the lookout for leafminer. While the allium leafminer
Curtis Marble (far right) takes nominations for new Utah Onion Association board members.
is still only found in certain onion production areas of the eastern U.S., it may make it out west,” Nischwitz said. To illustrate how this pest may arrive, she passed around a bunch of green onions purchased at a local grocery store. Leafminer tracks within the leaf blades were clearly visible. “I’ve found live larvae in other samples, and the species present were leafminer commonly found in Utah onion fields,” Nischwitz said. “We need to be vigilant and prepared for the invasive, more damaging allium leafminer.”
Legislative Update
The meeting ended with Spencer Gibbons from the Utah Farm Bureau briefly outlining some of the key legislative issues in the 2020 Utah Legislature sessions. Of particular interest are those addressing water and water use. Gibbons encouraged onion growers to get involved so laws affecting them meet with their approval. Gowan Seed Company displays Caldwell onions at the Utah Onion Association winter meeting.
OnionWorld.net
7
Getting the Good Bugs: The Amazing World of Natural Enemies
By Jessa Kay Cruz, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
O
ne of my favorite stories about pest control takes place on a small vegetable farm in western Idaho. I am conducting a site visit, consulting with the farmer, Lucas, about an upcoming habitat project. It’s fall, and many of his summer crops are done for the season. As we tour the farm, he shows me his carrots, onions and cilantro. He has finished harvesting these plants, but instead of terminating them immediately, he decided to let them bolt because I’d previously told him that the nectar-rich flowers of these plants are a favorite of parasitic wasps and other natural enemies.
From the bolting summer crops, we head over to look at his recently planted broccoli. He had noticed an aphid outbreak earlier and wants me to help him determine if the outbreak warrants spraying. As we start to scout, we see something strange. The aphids look dark-colored and desiccated, almost the same way they look after being sprayed. Closer examination with a hand-lens reveals what I suspected: they’ve been parasitized. Every single one of the aphids is dead. I tell him that those bolting crops must be doing their job, raising populations of parasitic wasps that
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Onion World • May / June 2020
Here, a lacewing larva eats aphids. Like lady beetles, lacewings have voracious appetites. Photo courtesy Thelma Heidel-Baker
are attacking the aphids on his broccoli. It’s a perfect system. At work in this story is a pestmanagement strategy that has been getting a lot of attention lately, referred to as conservation biological control, conservation biocontrol, or simply CBC. The foundation of CBC is creating conditions on a farm that attract and support significant populations of beneficial insects. These beneficial insects, also known as “natural enemies,” attack crop pests like aphids and flea beetles by either eating them or parasitizing them. Insects like syrphid flies, lacewings and lady beetles prey directly on crop pests; a single lady beetle can consume up to 5,000 aphids in its brief lifetime. Others, such as braconid wasps and tachinid flies, are parasitoids, laying their eggs on or inside the body of their host. Those eggs then hatch and the larva consume their host until they finally emerge as adults, leaving only empty insect “mummies” behind. While many predatory insects are generalists, meaning that they prey on
a wide variety of pest insects, most parasitoids are host-specific and can provide excellent control of target pests. Both groups are important to have around in order to provide the best overall management of crop pests.
Types of Biological Control
Biological control, the use of living organisms to provide pest control, can take a number of different forms. Classical biocontrol involves the widespread release and establishment of a nonnative natural enemy from the pest’s native range. This method is generally managed by government agencies and scientists and can lead to long-term pest reduction. Unfortunately, classical biocontrol requires an immense amount of testing and vetting, so the process can be very slow. And even with all the careful vetting, there have been instances of classical biocontrol going very wrong and producing unintended ecological and economic consequences. Who can forget the cautionary tale of the cane toad in Australia? Another form of biological control, referred to as augmentative biocontrol, involves the purchase and release of mass-reared insects. This method can be very effective in greenhouses or confined spaces, and can provide at least temporary relief from pest pressure. The drawback is that augmentative biocontrol often doesn’t provide long-term pest control, as released populations of beneficial insects won’t establish permanently without habitat and management. The magic of conservation biocontrol is that it works within existing ecosystems and relies on natural processes. Unlike other forms of biological control, CBC doesn’t rely on the introduction of foreign agents to do the job; it uses wild insects that are likely already present. In a way, it is the oldest of pest control systems made modern. Conservation biocontrol focuses on creating habitat and adopting farming practices that support beneficial insect populations. Since the estimated value of pest control by wild beneficial insects is $4.5 billion to $12 billion annually for U.S. crops, and $100 billion worldwide, it is a method that seems to be working.
This tachinid fly is a parasitoid, which lays its eggs on or inside the body of its host. Photo courtesy Sarah Foltz Jordan
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Beneficial Insects
Pictured is a parasitized tomato hornworm, with the parasitoid’s eggs laid on the outside of the host’s body. Photo courtesy Thelma Heidel-Baker
Importance of Habitat
Habitat is the key ingredient in conservation biocontrol, primarily because flowering plants provide food by way of pollen and nectar. Many beneficial insects rely on pollen or nectar at specific periods of their life cycle, or use these floral resources to supplement their diets when insect prey is not available. For example, syrphid flies are predaceous in their immature stage, but feed exclusively
on nectar as an adult. Adult lady beetles, on the other hand, need to feed on a combination of insect prey, pollen and nectar to flourish. Carefully placed and managed habitat can also provide nesting and overwintering sites and a refuge from pesticides and disturbances such as tillage or heavy equipment use. On-farm habitat for beneficial insects can take many different forms. It can be as simple as allowing crops to bolt at the end of the season (as was successful on Lucas’ farm), or it can be planting a permanent hedgerow of blooming shrubs and perennials along a field border or roadside. Insectary strips of blooming plants in the middle of a field can support beneficial insects throughout large cropped areas, as can seasonal cover crops. Beetle banks, comprised of a raised bed of bunch grasses, can provide shelter for large populations of predaceous ground beetles. There are a few basic principles to keep in mind. Having somewhere on a farm with permanent habitat that is well protected from pesticides is critical for
maintaining populations of beneficial insects on a farm long-term. Also, providing consistent floral resources from early in the spring all the way into the fall is an important way to support a diversity of natural enemies throughout their life cycles. Scientific data supports the key function of habitat in conservation biocontrol. For example, a recent study comparing stink bug parasitism in tomato fields adjacent to hedgerows and tomato fields without habitat, found that parasitism rates were three times as high in fields adjacent to hedgerows. Another study found that planting buckwheat as a flowering cover crop adjacent to soybeans increased wasp parasitism of stink bug eggs by two and a half times.
Case for Conservation Biocontrol Conservation biocontrol can work in nearly any cropping system and with many different pests. For example, predatory ground beetles attack soildwelling pests such as caterpillars, tuberworms and cutworms. Predatory
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Onion World • May / June 2020
A hedgerow of blooming shrubs and perennials along a field border serves as habitat for beneficial insects. Photo courtesy Sarah Foltz Jordan
mites, minute pirate bugs and lacewings can decimate populations of two-spotted mites and thrips. Finally, aphids are a favorite food of almost all beneficial insects, including amazing parasitoid wasps. The only real cost of conservation biocontrol is in establishing and managing the habitat that supports beneficial insect populations, and agencies such the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help pay for that. There’s no reason not to practice conservation biocontrol. Just ask Lucas.
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Author’s note: For more information about planting habitat for beneficial insects, contact your local NRCS field office, or Jessa Kay Cruz at jessa.cruz@ xerces.org. An insectary strip of blooming plants in the middle of a field supports beneficial insects throughout the cropped area. Photo courtesy Sarah Foltz Jordan
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Vidalia Honors Growers Photos courtesy Vidalia Onion Committee
T
wo past recipients of the Vidalia Onion Committee’s (VOC) Grower of the Year award were recently back in the spotlight, once again earning recognition for their contributions to the industry during the VOC’s annual awards banquet.
Grower of the Year
The VOC presented its 2019 Grower of the Year award to Alan Sikes with Sikes Farms. He also earned the award in 2011. The award recognizes overall achievement and success as a producer of Vidalia onions. The emphasis of the award is on quality, production and ability to work within the confines of the Vidalia marketing order. Alan Sikes and his wife, Tracy, started their operation in 1993. Their first crop was six acres; production has now grown to 600 acres. Sikes built an onion shed in 1995 and began packing onions there the following year. Since then, Sikes has added on to the operation, which now includes an electronic sizer and ample drying and storage capacity. Sikes is considered a mentor to many younger producers of Vidalia onions, according to the VOC. He has also served on the VOC as a member or alternate most years since 1995.
From left, Aries Haygood, chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee, and Cliff Riner, vice-chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee, present Alan Sikes with the 2019 Grower of the Year award.
For More Details Ask For Lee L. Shuknecht Dale Shuknecht Matt Geissler
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Onion World • May / June 2020
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585.283.4847
Hall of Fame
Each year, the VOC inducts one individual into the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame based on the person’s character, reputation and overall contribution to the growth and success of the Vidalia onion. The newest inductee is R.E. Hendrix. Hendrix grew his first crop of onions in 1976 and now owns Hendrix Produce along with his son Kevin in Metter, Georgia. Hendrix Produce was one of the first growers to offer certified organic onions. Hendrix has also grown strawberries and cantaloupes and is currently producing watermelons and Satsuma oranges. Hendrix is described as a “take-thebull-by-the-horns kind of guy.” He, like many others in the Hall of Fame, has gone to the state capital to fight for the industry in many ways, according to the VOC. He also served for many years with the VOC and Vidalia Onion Business Council. Prior to being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Hendrix was selected as the Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year in 1995.
Members of the VidaliaGuide_Sept2018_Layout Onion Hall of Fame gather the Vidalia9:17 Onion Onion World Buyers 1 at 9/25/2018 AMCommittee Page 1 annual awards banquet. Pictured from left to right are Buck Shuman, Bob Stafford, R.E. Hendrix and R.T. Stanley.
R.E Hendrix (left) accepts an award commemorating his induction into the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame from Aries Haygood, chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee.
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SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE Superex
301 Natividad Rd. Salinas, CA 93906 Phone: (831) 443-4901 www.takii.com info@takii.com
Rio Dulce
Rio Dulce
Rio Dulce a is mid-early, short-day onion with low pungency. It has strong roots, a high tolerance to pink root and good single centers. Bulbs are firm, have a globe shape with good skin retention and are mostly jumbo and colossal.
Superex
Superex is an early, short-day onion suited for tropic and sub-tropic climates. Jumbo-sized bulbs are firm, flattened-globe in shape with brown-yellow skin. Lab analysis puts Superex within the Vidalia Superior Onion Flavors standards. The variety is best for the fresh market.
Rio del Sol
Rio del Sol is a mid-late, short-day onion with strong tops and vigorous roots. It has high field resistance to pink root. Bulbs are a uniform globe shape with sizing in the colossal and super colossal range.
Rio del Sol
Rising Sun
Rising Sun is a medium-early maturing short-day onion with strong bolting tolerance. The variety has a rating of less than five on the pungency scale. Bulbs have a high percentage of single centers and a uniform globe shape. Sizing is mostly in the colossal and super colossal range.
Rising Sun
Blanca Grande
Blanca Grande is a medium-early maturing short-day white onion with a high percentage of single centers and strong bolting tolerance. Uniform globeshaped bulbs have thin necks with sizing in the medium to large range with good interior white color.
Blanca Grande
14
Onion World • May / June 2020
SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE
1972 Silver Spur Place Oceano, CA 93445 Phone: (805) 473-2199 www.bejoseeds.com info@bejoseeds.com
Red Sensation Red Hunter
Macon Alison
Red Duke
Tania
Pirate
Pirate
Pirate, a main-season short-day sweet Granex-type onion developed for the Vidalia market, features an attractive lighter colored skin. The variety produces uniform firm bulbs with a high-yielding deeper Granex shape and a high percentage of jumbos. It is widely adapted across many short-day regions.
Macon Red Sensation
Red Sensation is an early-maturing Grano red onion with strong, healthy tops and excellent bulb firmness and color. The variety is widely adapted across short-day growing regions.
Red Hunter
Red Hunter is a short-day red onion with strong tolerance to pink root and bolting. It features excellent mild sweet flavor with consistent low pyruvates. It is well adapted to the southern U.S. and overwinter production.
Red Duke
Red Duke is a main-season short-day red onion with a Granex shape and a deep, attractive red color. Plants have vigorous disease-resistant tops with a strong root system. The variety is a consistently good performer with pink root resistance and low pungency.
Alison
Alison is a later-maturing short-day Granex variety with upright tops and a deeper, high-yielding Granex shape. The variety has bolting resistance, is very uniform and works well for the later-season slot in Vidalia.
Macon is a short-day yellow Granex onion introduced for the late-season maturity slot. The variety is high yielding with a deeper Granex shape, excellent uniformity, strong tops, and sweet and mild flavor.
Tania
Tania is a new short-day yellow Granex introduction with strong, upright, healthy tops with great plant habit. The variety has early-main-season maturity. With a high-yielding, deeper Granex shape, strong root system and firm bulbs, seed is available for the 2020 season. OnionWorld.net
15
SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE P.O. Box 520 Caldwell, ID 83605 Phone: (208) 459-7451 ccoinfo@crookham.com www.crookham.com Intermediate- and Short-day: Rob Gobleck Phone: (575) 644-5712 robg@crookham.com Long- and Intermediate-day for U.S. and international: Lyndon Johnson Phone: (208) 369-3390 lyndonj@crookham.com
Vanguard
Vanguard is a productive main-season intermediate yellow variety. It produces jumbo to colossal size, bronze-colored, uniform bulbs that make it an option for processing or for fresh market. It has high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting.
Great White
Great White has great yield potential for its maturity of 103 - 105 days. It has an attractive and luminescent white package with a high rate of single centers. Being a Celebrate Onion, Great White’s structure and strong roots make it a grower-friendly intermediate option. It has high tolerance to pink root and Fusarium and is tolerant to bolting.
Vanguard Great White
Avenger
Avenger is a very consistent producer of single centers and uniform, well shaped bulbs. It is known as a good early yielder that finishes with a nice, rich bronze skin. It has high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting.
White Ace
White Ace is a consistent short-day onion with a good yield potential and a classic white skin with a high percentage of single centers. It has high tolerance to pink root and Fusarium.
Avenger White Ace
Crown
Crown is a dependable full-season onion that cuts a high to very high percentage of single centers. It has a high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting. Bulb sizes on Crown range from jumbo to colossal. These characteristics make Crown a grower-friendly and producer-preferred variety.
Red Ranger
Red Ranger is a late-maturing deep, rich red short-day onion that is a consistent yielder. The rings on Red Ranger are also distinguished by a deep red color, and they have a high percentage of single centers. Red Ranger is very adaptable, making it a growerfriendly variety.
Crown Red Ranger
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SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE Rio Rojo F1
Cherry Mountain F1
DP Sweet F1 Pumba F1
Diamond Swan F1
Sapelo Sweet F1
8269 E. US Hwy. 95 Yuma, AZ 85365 Phone: (928) 341-8494 www.dpseeds.com info@dpseeds.com
Cherry Mountain F1
Cherry Mountain F1 is a large, brilliant colored, dark red Grano onion with excellent storage capabilities. This variety produces round bulbs that are uniform in shape with a refined neck. The variety is highly single centered and ideal for the fresh market. Plant in early spring.
Diamond Swan F1
Diamond Swan F1 is an early variety with good storage capabilities. This variety features a round, very white bulb with a refined neck and is highly single centered.
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DP Sweet F1
DP Sweet F1 features a round shape with a small neck and firm bulb weighing 250-300 grams. It is a very early variety with good flavor and is resistant to downy mildew and bolting.
Sapelo Sweet F1
Sapelo Sweet F1 is a hybrid, short-day onion of mid-maturity. This onion seed variety produces bulbs of 2-to-1 ratio with a high percentage of jumbo size, making it one of DP Seeds’ highest yielding onions. Tops are dark green with seven to eight leaves, and with two skins, Sapelo Sweet F1 is good for CA storage. The variety has moderate tolerance to pink root.
Onion World • May / June 2020
Rio Rojo F1
Rio Rojo F1 is jumbo-sized with a flattened-globe shape. The variety features mid-early maturity and stores well. It is suitable for direct sowing and transplanting. It has good bolting tolerance and strong field adaptation under various climates and soil conditions and is strong against drought.
Pumba F1
Pumba F1 is a hybrid, short-day yellow Grano-type onion that produces high yields with an excellent shelf life. With uniform shape and good sunburn protection, Pumba F1 is normally a mid-late maturity that produces large size onions. It has medium tolerance to pink root.
SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE Francesca F1
Cabernet F1
Javier Russek, Product Specialist, Onions Phone: (831) 240-5736 www.enzazaden.us j.russek@enzazaden.com
NEW! Elsye F1 (E61D.10106)
Monastrell F1
Madalyn F1
Francesca F1
Francesca is a mid-to-late short-day variety with strong tops and tolerance to pink root rot. Its exceptional bulb firmness makes the variety suited for mechanical harvest. Bulbs are approximately 3 inchces, globe shaped and uniform.
Madalyn F1
Madalyn is an early-to-mid short-day onion. It produces globe-shaped, bronzecolored bulbs between 2.4 and 4.3 inches.
NEW! Elsye F1 (E61D.10106)
Elsye is a mid-maturing intermediate yellow onion with excellent sizing potential. Elsye’s strong vigor and bolting tolerance make it a prime choice for growers looking for an excellent-yielding, processor-friendly onion that works well in the fresh market. Elsye’s mild flavor profile would allow it to be packed as a sweet onion, adding to Elsye’s marketing flexibility.
Cabernet F1
With a vigorous plant habit, Cabernet produces uniform globe-shaped bulbs of outstanding holding ability and high quality. Typical harvest is July through August, offering earliness and firmness.
Monastrell F1
Monastrell is an intermediate-day onion that boasts high quality, single-centered bulbs. Bulbs are uniform and resistant to sunscald in the field. With bulbs averaging 3.5 to 4 inches, the variety is recommended for fresh market.
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SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE 3155 SW 10th Street, Suite 6L Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 www.hazera.com Ben de Nijs, Regional Product Manager, Root and Bulb Crops Phone: (863) 303-2974 ben.de.nijs@hazera.com
Miss Scarlett
This red short-day hybrid is productive and matures early. The internal coloration will start early, making Miss Scarlett very suitable for the early-main red onion market. Vigorous, erect green tops will contribute to an excellent production.
NEW! Joelino (10255)
Red Sea
A very attractive and productive intermediateday red hybrid, Red Sea is a flexible variety and delivers a beautiful dark red color. Internally, Red Sea has an early, deep red coloration. This hybrid will produce firm, flattened-globe-shaped bulbs with a trim neck.
Miss Scarlett
This new vigorous main-season yellow short-day onion will help growers through the season by producing quality onion bulbs. The variety has proven itself in many areas and shown a high tolerance to pink root. This high quality onion will produce firm, globe-shaped bulbs with strong skins.
Red Sea
Joelino (10255)
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ASA-LIFT w. Miller Farms Hancock, WI. (715) 249-5160 pmillerfarms@gmail.com
Onion World • May / June 2020
1709 Hwy 81 S, PO Box 311, Grafton, ND USA 58237
701-352-0480 • sales@kerian.com Fax 701-352-3776
SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETY GUIDE Don Victor
1200 Anderson Corner Rd. Parma, ID 83660 Phone: (800) 733-9505 www.nunhems.com
NUN 6005 Sofire
NUN 6005
NUN 6005 is a mid-season intermediateday red onion. It is globe shaped with excellent internal and external color. The variety has very good bolting tolerance and is a strong yielder. The hybrid produces firm bulbs with a trim neck and mild flavor.
Sofire Vulkana
Sofire is an early short-day red onion. It is the earliest red in the market at a 145 - 155 day maturity. The variety produces rounded Grano-shaped bulbs that are uniform in shape with good internal and external color. It has excellent bolting tolerance and high pink root resistance with its strong, vigorous root system as well as strong, healthy tops.
Don Victor
Don Victor is a main-season short-day yellow onion with a 170 - 180 day maturity. Bulbs are globe shape. It is a highly adaptable and very uniform variety. The variety is a high performer year after year with high yields. It also has excellent bolting tolerance and high pink root resistance.
!
NEW
Vulkana
Vulkana is a very early short-day yellow variety with a 140 - 150 day maturity. The variety produces round Grano-shape bulbs with high pink root resistance. It’s a good yielder for the early market. The variety has very good uniformity of shape and size.
Dulciana
Dulciana
Dulciana is an early short-day yellow onion at a 150 - 160 day maturity. Round Grano-shape bulbs have a very mild flavor profile. The variety has very good bolting tolerance and high pink root resistance. It is a strong yielder for the early mild yellow segment.
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OnionWorld.net
21
Insect Quiz By Brian Nault and Karly Regan
Shoo, fly! A
B
Photo courtesy A. Megroz
Photo courtesy Central Science Library, Harpendon, British Crown, Bugwood.org
C
Onions and other alliums are home to many species of fly pests. Can you identify each of these damage culprits and match each one to the area of the plant where you would find it?
3 Photo courtesy J. Ogrodnick
2
This material is provided courtesy of Brian Nault, Ph.D., Vegetable Entomologist at Cornell University. For more information, visit http://nault. entomology.cornell.edu. 22
Onion World • May / June 2020
1 Answers on page 25
In the News
Vidalia Onions Hit the Market
Vidalia onion producers began shipping onions April 16, this year’s official pack date set by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Vidalia Onion Committee. The pack date is determined by soil and weather conditions during the growing season to help ensure only the highest quality Vidalia onions, known for their sweet, mild flavor, are shipped to stores. The Vidalia Onion Committee is predicting a strong harvest of 9,400 acres this year. The committee is continuing its “Sweet Life” marketing campaign launched last year to reach home cooks across the country. Hand-cultivated by 60 registered growers in 20 southeastern Georgia counties, Vidalia onions represent about 40 percent of the nation’s sweet onion market and are sold in every state.
M.F. 180 w/ Stanhay 12-row Onion Seeder Complete Setup: $11,900
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Redefining the onion industry
Stokes Seeds Hosts Grower Event in NJ
Stokes Seeds hosted the 22nd Annual Vineland Growers Dinner in Vineland, New Jersey, for customers in the region. Nearly 100 producers from across southern New Jersey attended the appreciation and information event, which featured updates on new seed products and customer service initiatives. Several Stokes Seeds suppliers attended, including Seminis, Syngenta, Harris Moran and Sakata. Representatives from the suppliers provided attendees with product and production fit information. According to Stokes, the southern New Jersey vegetable production region is one of the most diverse in the U.S. with a wide array of products grown for consumer markets throughout the eastern seaboard.
1) Enza Zaden [εnˌza ̍zædn̩̩] noun
i. An entrepreneurial culture has defined Enza Zaden since our early days as a vegetable breeding company. Our breeding teams deliver innovative vegetable varieties to top North American growers. ii. The combination of Francesca’s firmness, its relatively uniform size, its excellent top and root vigors, provide an opportunity to significantly reduce labor costs while improving overall harvest efficiency. Mechanical harvest can make a major difference, and growers are excited about varieties with that game changing potential.
enzazaden.us DIX-087-enza-onion-4.875x7.375-fnl.indd 1
3/20/19 10:03 AM OnionWorld.net
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Trade Trends
New Zealand and Australia: Exports of Fresh Onions, Shallots By Mark Wocial, Certified Global Business Professional, Wocial & Associates LLC
A
ccording to the United Nations international trade statistics, New Zealand exported on average 157,000 metric tons (MT) of fresh onions and shallots annually between 2009 and 2018. In 2018, New Zealand exported 134,000 MT. Europe accounted for over half of New Zealand’s fresh onion exports between 2009 and 2018. The most important markets included the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. In 2018, exports to Europe amounted to almost 70,000 MT. Asia was the second largest export destination, representing around 35 percent of onion shipments from New Zealand between 2009 and 2018. Indonesia was the largest market, followed by Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan. In 2018, New Zealand exported approximately 46,000 MT to Asia. The Pacific Islands accounted for close to 8 percent of New Zealand’s onion exports between 2009 and 2018. The most important destinations included Fiji, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Samoa. In 2018, New Zealand exported almost 18,000 MT to the region. Australia exported an average of 48,000 MT of fresh onions and shallots annually between 2009 and 2018.
In 2018, Australia exported 34,000 MT. Europe was the largest export destination for Australian onions, accounting for almost 60 percent of shipments between 2009 and 2018. Germany and Belgium were the largest markets, followed by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. However, exports to Europe declined in recent years and amounted to only 8,000 MT in 2018. Australian exports to Asia represented over one-third of its fresh onion exports between 2009 and 2018. However, as exports to Europe declined, the market share of Asian exports increased. The most important markets included Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 2018, Australia exported 19,000 MT of fresh onions to Asia. In other regions of the world, the United Arab Emirates was an important market for Australian onions. In contrast to New Zealand, Australian exports to the Pacific Islands were much smaller and amounted to only 2,000 MT in 2018. Author’s note: This information is based on the author’s analysis of the international trade data collected by the United Nations New Zealand and Australia ‐ Exports of fresh onions and International Trade Statistics Database. shallots (MT) 200,000 New Zealand and Australia ‐ Exports of fresh onions and
shallots (MT) 180,000 New Zealand and Australia Exports of fresh onions and shallots (MT) 200,000 160,000
180,000 140,000 160,000 120,000 100,000 140,000 80,000 120,000 60,000 100,000 40,000 80,000 20,000 60,000
40,000 0 20,000
2010
2011
2012
2013
New Zealand
0
2009
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
New Zealand
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2016
2017
2018
Australia
2014
2015
Australia
New Zealand ‐ Fresh onion exports by country in 2018 (MT)
New Zealand - Fresh onions export by country in 2018 (MT) 30,000 New Zealand ‐ Fresh onion exports by country in 2018 (MT)
35,000
35,000
25,000
30,000
20,000
25,000
15,000
20,000
10,000
15,000
5,000
10,000 0
Netherlands Indonesia
Germany
Fiji
Japan
Malaysia
Fiji
Japan
Malaysia
5,000
24
Onion World • May / June 2020
0
Netherlands Indonesia
Germany
Insect Quiz Answers From page 22
A: Allium Leafminer, Phytomyza gymnostoma (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Find this pest on area 3 of plant in illustration. This pest is a recent invader to the Northeast U.S., affecting many alliums, but particularly leeks. Females make rows of perfectly round punctures in the leaf to lay eggs, followed by larvae mining straight down toward the bulb where they pupate. Feeding damage introduces bacteria causing the crop to rot, and larvae and pupae contaminate the crop at harvest. Flies are gray/black with a yellow patch on the head, white halteres and yellow at the tibia/femur joint.
B: Serpentine Leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Find this pest on area 2 of plant in illustration. This pest gets its name from the curvy mining injury by larvae as they feed. In addition to onions, this pest attacks many other plants and vegetable crops. Adults are dark gray with yellow markings. They are commonly found in all onion producing areas in the U.S. Mining injury is typically not severe enough to cause economic loss to onion.
C: Onion and Seedcorn Maggots, Delia spp.(Diptera: Anythomyiidae) Find this pest on area 1 of plant in illustration. These two species are nearly indistinguishable in appearance and damage, both laying eggs in soil near the base of plants. Larvae hatch and feed on onion seedlings, which typically kills the plant. Later generations can feed on developed onion bulbs, rendering onions unmarketable and prone to rot. Seedcorn maggot (D. platura) may also feed on seeds of other large-seeded crops, such as corn and soy, while onion maggot (D. antiqua) specializes on onion, scallion and leek.
Exploring nature never stops PIRATE
ALISON
TANIA
RED SENSATION
Main season short day sweet granex developed for the Vidalia market. Attractive lighter colored skin. Uniform firm bulbs with high yielding deeper granex shape. High percentage of jumbos. Widely adapted across many short day regions.
Later maturing short day granex variety. Upright tops. Deeper high yielding granex shape. Bolting resistance and very uniform. Works well for the later season slot in Vidalia.
New short day yellow granex introduction. Strong upright healthy tops with great plant habit. Early main season maturity. High yielding deeper granex shape, strong root system and firm bulbs. Seed available for 2020.
Early maturing grano red. Strong healthy tops. Excellent bulb firmness and color. Widely adapted across short day growing regions.
BEJO SEEDS INC. (MAIN OFFICE) 1972 Silver Spur Place Oceano, CA 93445 T| 805-473-2199 E| info@bejoseeds.com ď‚„
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OnionWorld.net
25
From the NOA
The Sustainability Story
By René Hardwick, National Onion Association Director of Public and Industry Relations We keep hearing that buzzword lately: Sustainability. That’s mainly because a bunch of marketers did some research on what younger generations cared about so they could market to them. Sustainable products, sustainable living, sustainable industry. Anything that in some small way saves the planet is going to gain favor with the millennials and Generation Zs out there. What’s interesting is that the millennial generation (those born from roughly 1981 to 1996) has now outpaced the baby boomers in size. Generation Z (those born from roughly 1996 to 2011) already accounts for 40 percent of the global consuming public. These socially conscious younger generations are making their views heard in the marketplace. They increasingly will not support an industry that doesn’t exhibit sustainable practices. They increasingly boycott products they believe are not sustainable. They will even refuse to work for employers who do not have strong sustainability programs. Business for Social Responsibility, a global nonprofit business network and consultancy dedicated to sustainability, warns: “As millennials and Gen Z make up a larger and larger proportion of consumers around the globe, companies will increasingly need to be prepared to take a position on social debates and back it up with action.” As a mass consuming group, they will dictate marketplace practices with their pocketbooks, and companies that pay attention to this will win because of it. What does all this mean for the onion industry? It really means telling our story – the story that’s remained true since, well, the dawn of time. Farming is the OG of sustainability. Finding the right sustainability algorithm, to speak in younger generations’ terms, is key. The proper mixture and timing of chemical application in the field will keep the soil healthy. Healthy soil will
26
have much better yields, so less waste. Cover crops help prevent soil erosion. Efficient water usage prevents runoff, helps save water costs and so on. Farmers do this all every day, and it not only saves them money but shows their careful stewardship of the land from which they’re reaping their harvest. Onion farmers have a little extra going for them with the onion. It’s safe and sustainably packaged by nature. Unfortunately, consumers hear certain things and then stop listening. Pesticides, you say? Forget it. What? You don’t encase each onion under a laser-proof shield? Not good enough. Those are the extremes, but the middle is what we should all care about: our story. That’s where you get to brag on how much you care about the land, how it feeds your soul, what you do to make food better, the investment you make every day to not only nourish a country, but protect us from ourselves. The great part of that is that we can tell our story every day, every minute, on social media, where these younger generations live. Using social media isn’t all about taking pictures of your dinner. It is how these generations connect – globally. So telling your story to them on their platform is going to be a big win. Just think. The oil and gas industry let others tell a story about fracking that almost brought down the industry. We let others tell the story on Chlorpyrifos – many onion farmers’ only option for controlling onion maggots – and look what’s happened. Now we’re behind the story, and no one is even interested in hearing our side. Let’s meet these generations where they are with the great story we have to tell. I heard this recently from a flight attendant: “If you can’t figure out your phone, find the nearest teenager.” It’s time, folks. We’ve got to get in the social game to talk up our industry’s sustainability and get ahead of the next story. gain reform that is workable for the entire ag industry. Other issues members discussed included a request for $400,000 in research funds to help the onion industry combat the
Onion World • May / June 2020
Allium leafminer before it spreads much farther than the areas it is already in; our concerns with inconsistencies in some trading countries’ practices with MRLs, especially related to Taiwan; our need to increase funding to the IR-4 project, which helps the industry gain access to new chemicals to combat pests and disease; and more funding for the National Agricultural Statistical Service to increase the timeliness of statistics reporting and reporting better numbers on foreign onions coming into the U.S. Riley, a past NOA president, has gone to Washington D.C. every year and felt this year the group effort helped spread our messages. “We covered a lot of ground,” Riley said. “I think it was easier this way. We used our time more efficiently than we had in the past. We were able to work more with our own constituencies. Things worked out great.” Or course, the work is not over, warns Jemmett, who had accompanied the group in previous years. “Just because the trip is over, I don’t think the work is done,” he said. “A lot more needs to happen, and we need to stay on top of it.”
Calendar June 16-19
United Fresh 2020 LIVE! Online www.unitedfresh.org
July 8
Summer Farm Festival and Malheur Experiment Station Field Day Ontario, Oregon Janet Jones, (541) 889-2174 or janet.jones@oregonstate.edu
July 15-18
National Onion Association Summer Convention Nashville, Tenn. www.onions-usa.org
Editor’s note: All information was correct at presstime. Please contact event organizers to check for possible changes.
New Products
Disinfecting Services Offers Power Flush
Disinfecting Services has added Power Flush to its product lineup. With a blend of oxygen-based compounds, including peroxyacetic acid (PAA), the product can be used to clean and flush low-flow irrigation systems. Power Flush is designed to unplug drip-tape emitters and micro-jets, restoring system efficiency. According to the company, Power Flush’s high-oxidative power is more effective than hydrogen peroxide alone, the residuals are readily biodegradable, and the product has no halogenated hydrocarbon by-products. Visit www.disinfectingservices.net.
Wilbur-Ellis Introduces Pair of Products
Wilbur-Ellis Company has a new adjuvant and a new surfactant on the market. Efficax is the company’s new soil retention adjuvant designed to help spray applications last longer by increasing the coverage, absorption and adhesion of the spray material deposits onto soil particles. This is also meant to improve the residual activity of most soil-applied herbicides and improve control of early-season weeds. The preemergent adjuvant is said to have excellent tank mix compatibility and can be used with most preferred herbicides. Embrece-EA is a blend of surfactants designed to improve coverage and wetting of spray materials, resulting in quick absorption and improved control of the targeted pest. The product offers application flexibility, with lower use rates ideal for cover sprays and higher use rates providing more penetration, ideal for crops that have a thicker layer of wax on the leaf surface, according to the company. Visit www.wilburellis.com.
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27
SYSSTEM SeaCal ®
More value in one jug! Can your calcium do all this?
Right Nutrient, Right Form, Right Time, Right Mix Sysstem® SeaCal provides more value to onion growers in one jug than any other competing foliar calcium on the market. No other foliar calcium on the market gives growers a better way to supply the right nutrient at the right time, in the right form and in the right mix, in combination with Agro-K’s superior seaweed spray and a 40 year track record of success.
28
For more information contact Agro-K or an authorized dealer today.
• Fastest Penetration and Uptake - the low pH calcium phosphite solution is rapidly absorbed by waxy onion leaf surfaces making it the best choice to systemically deliver calcium faster and more completely than other foliar formulations. Low pH formulations have significant advantages over neutral pH phosphite products – aiding in the uptake of other larger crop protection molecules. In addition, low pH solutions improve compatibility and stability of most tank mixes without the need of an acidifying agent. • Root Flush Technology™ - Sysstem® SeaCal works to increase root mass and foraging capacity by enhancing the natural root exudate process that plants create to free-up and extract soil-bound nutrients. Increasing the natural “root flushing” activity allows the plant to extract more nutrients and moisture from the soil while also increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of soil applied fertility programs. • Seaweed Technology – Agro-K’s 40 plus year history and experience working with seaweed formulations is built into Sysstem® SeaCal. The unique compounds found in seaweeds help alleviate both physiological and climatic stress leading to improved plant growth and bulb quality. The formulation of Sysstem® SeaCal uses a proprietary reaction process to enhance and stabilize these key compounds ensuring consistent performance from this value-added foliar product. Sysstem® SeaCal can be combined with other fertilizers and crop protection products normally applied during bulb initiation and development to improve size, quality, storage life, pack-out and overall grower returns. Sysstem® SeaCal is designed to support calcium needs in all crops but is particularly effective on onions. Meeting peak demand timing for calcium aids in maximizing bulb quality. Once bulb formation begins, the cell division window begins and calcium demand increases significantly for the next 3-4 weeks as onion cells divide. Sysstem® SeaCal’s low pH calcium phosphite solution is designed to penetrate quickly and more completely resulting in higher bulb calcium levels and higher quality onions.
Onion World • May / June 2020
Sysstem® SeaCal effectively drives calcium into the leaves improving cell wall thickness. Thicker stronger cell walls are more tolerant to disease and improves overall plant health aiding higher yields and quality.
Science Driven Nutrition © 2020 Agro-K Corporation. Sysstem is a trademark of Agro-K Corporation.
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Bejo Seeds Inc.
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Chinook Equipment, Inc.
DP Seeds Enza Zaden Nunhems Seedway
Clearwater Supply, Inc. CMI Equipment & Engineering Co. Cut Above Enterprise, Inc. Disinfecting Services Empire Tractor Fox Packaging
CROP INPUTS Agro-K Nichino America Terramera, Inc.
MISCELLANEOUS National Onion Association TheOnionPodcast.com Used Equipment for Sale
Fox Solutions Gearmore Inc. IPL Macro Kerian Machines, Inc. L&M Specialty Fabrication Pacific Building Systems Redwood Empire Awning Company Rietveld Equipment Solex Corp. South Georgia Equipment
