Onion World May/June 2021

ONION WORLD

A Summer Convention Do-Over

sociation Director of Public and Industry Relations

by Torrey Farms in New York. But without the energy that comes alive in person, the auction was more of a sales event, rather than an event with a little entertainment complete with great bidding wars.

We can say we made a little lemonade out of the 2020 lemons, but it is time to get back to business and allow our members to engage while possibly enjoying a Bushwacker at a honkytonk down Broadway.

We’re bringing back Austin Booker for our annual summer auction, which benefits the promotions fund. We’re getting some interest in big donations this year again from Top Air Inc., which earned our Promotions Champion award last year for its donation of an onion lifter. We’d encourage others in the industry to think of ways they can donate to help this auction raise money for, frankly, an amazing cause: marketing onions across the nation. All of your marketing dollars go toward putting onions in the spotlight with great recipes and promotions to get in front of a lot of people. And that doesn’t come cheap.

Donations and fundraising for the promotions fund was down considerably in 2020, and we need to make up for it in 2021 while we explore new ways to keep onions as a healthy part of people’s meals and take advantage of a new culture of cooking at home.

This auction is open for anyone to donate. If you feel strongly about supporting onion promotions, your donation will be accepted.

Only members will be bidding on items at the convention, so you can count on your donation being picked up by someone in your industry.

As of this writing, the agenda has not yet been set, but rest assured, our Executive Vice President, Greg Yielding, will be busy drumming up speakers for good discussions about hot political topics in the industry.

If you’re not a member, consider joining. The National Onion Association is serious about making onions a part of the conversation that deals with ag-related policymaking. You may attend our conventions as a non-member, as long as a current member sponsors you. Feel free to call our office in Colorado to ask any questions: (970) 353-5895.

Our convention this year will be July 14-17 at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown. Check our website often at www.onions-usa.org for rates and the agenda.

OnionWorld.net • May/June 2021

Variety Buyers' Guide

Advertiser Index Bejo ................................... 5 Chinook Equipment ......... 18 Clearwater Supply ........... 18 CMI .................................. 23 Crookham ........................ 19 Disinfecting Services ......... 5 Enza Zaden ..................... 15 Fox Packaging ................... 9 Fox Solutions ..................... 7 Gearmore ........................ 25 Kerian .............................. 14 L&M ................................. 11 Modern Produce ................ 5

Modern Produce .............. 12 Modern Produce .............. 26 Nichino............................. 28 Nunhems ......................... 18 NOA ................................. 16 Oro Agri ............................. 2 Pirrung ............................. 21 Redwood Empire Awning 15 Rietveld Equipment ........... 3 Seedway .......................... 17 Top Air.............................. 27 Verbruggen ...................... 23

Less is More Stop the Rot Update Utah Growers Zoom in on Latest Research

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Table of Contents Magazines For Maximum Yield

ONION WORLD Volume 37, Number 4

May / June 2021

6 Utah Growers Zoom in on Latest Research Utah Onion Association Winter Meeting

8 Less is More

Reducing Inputs Benefits Onion Production in Muck Soil

12 Progress Report

Stop the Rot: A National Collaboration to Research, Combat Bacterial Diseases of Onion

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 Publisher / Advertising Manager Dave Alexander dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Editor Denise Keller editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Director of Operations Brian Feist brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com

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.

20 Short- and Intermediate-Day Onion Variety Update

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 Payments may be made by check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Stop the Rot is a national four-year project to research the complete system of bacterial diseases of onion. Find out what the research team learned during its first full season of field and lab work on page 12.

On the Cover Check out a full selection of short- and intermediate-day onions in the Variety Buyers’ Guide starting on page 20.

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Onion World • May / June 2021

Departments 11 13 16 18 26 26

Onion Quiz Calendar In the News New Products From the NOA Advertiser Index

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 2021. 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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Utah Onion Association Winter Meeting

Utah Growers Zoom in on Latest Research

By Dan Drost, Utah State University

T

he Utah Onion Association joined the ranks of organizations opting for virtual meetings this winter. While the online meeting, held Feb. 9, did not allow the grower interactions that attendees enjoy at the annual in-person gathering, the meeting was well attended and provided an opportunity to highlight topics including onion irrigation management and crop health.

Irrigation Management

Niel Allen, a Utah State University (USU) irrigation specialist, reported on the 2019-20 Onion Water Use project.

“Utah House Bill 381 provided the funding to assess irrigation technologies designed to use less water, to help Utah farmers stay in agriculture while saving water, and identify systems that maintain productivity and profitability,” Allen said.

Onions were one of the crops chosen to “document water depletion or consumptive water use” from drip- or furrow-irrigated fields.

Allen described the trial setup and highlighted the water use differences between furrow- and drip-irrigated fields.

In the furrow-irrigated onions, calculated ET was about 0.2 inches of water per day during July and August. Differences in water use between the furrow- and dripirrigated fields were noticeable. Furrow fields received about three times as much water as the drip fields. This extra water resulted in both deep percolation and surface runoff (tail water) at the end of the field.

“Distance from the inlet in the drip fields impacted soil water content and crop yield more than it did in furrowirrigated fields,” Allen noted, adding that therefore, both water volume and system design can influence crop performance.

He went on to describe how friction loss down the drip line can affect water delivery, and this helps explain variable

6

Onion World • May / June 2021

yields across a field. He recommended that growers monitor onions in low water delivery locations, carefully design dripirrigated fields and consider using sensors to help track water use.

Bacterial Diseases

Claudia Nischwitz, a USU plant pathologist, provided a detailed update on the national “Stop the Rot” project.

“Stop the Rot” was designed to identify and manage bacterial diseases that affect onions in the field and storage.

Bacterial diseases are difficult to manage due to a lack of detection methods. In addition, there is a poor understanding of the genetics of pathogenicity, limited resistance in existing cultivars and few chemicals to help control these pathogens.

Utah is participating in two of the “Stop the Rot” objectives. During the 2020 production season, Nischwitz’s research team surveyed onion fields (Objective 1) across Utah for bacterial diseases, collected samples and identified those pathogens in the laboratory.

Collected bacterial samples were then assayed to see if they cause disease in the laboratory or greenhouse. Nischwitz reported that bacteria species collected in 2020 included Enterobacter, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Serratia and Berkholderia.

In addition to the field survey work, Nischwitz described the field trial conducted to evaluate bactericides that might control rots in onions. The trial tested some chemicals that might help reduce bacterial rots both pre- and postharvest (Objective 2). In 2020, eight chemicals were evaluated in a replicated trial. Onions were inoculated with Pantoea allii and the different control agents applied five times. Bulb samples were put in storage and then further evaluated after three months. Bacteria were sampled from diseased bulbs and

species were identified and pathogenicity tested.

“Utah commonly has few bacterial diseases due to the dry conditions experienced during the growing season.

However, growers need to know what problems are potentially out there and how to mitigate infection risk both in the field and in storage. This work should help improve onion sustainability and profitability,” Nischwitz said.

Leafminer Detection

Nischwitz also described her continuing efforts to identify and document the extent of leafminer injury in Utah onions.

In 2020, the only leafminers found in Utah onion fields were Liriomyza species.

While leafminers were found in many onion fields, they do very little damage, did not affect productivity and are not considered a threat.

Using a specialty crops block grant from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Nischwitz’s efforts will help growers better monitor leafminers. With a detection system in place, growers will have the tools to deal with the more serious Allium leafminer, should it arrive in Utah.

“While the Allium leafminer (Phytomyza gymnostoma) is still only found in some eastern U.S. onion production areas, we need to be sure we have ways to detect it, should it come this way,” Nischwitz advised.

She noted that she regularly finds leafminers in green onions purchased at local grocery stores. However, the species present were leafminers commonly found in Utah onion fields, she said.

Industry Issues

The meeting also included comments from Greg Yielding with the National Onion Association (NOA) outlining some of the national issues important

Dan Drost (left) and Cody Zesiger (middle) listen as Ryan Larsen (right) delivers a Zoom presentation on risk management and crop insurance during the 2021 Utah Onion Association Winter Meeting.

to the onion industry. Topics included how the NOA supports the enhanced crop insurance coverage option managed by the Risk Management Agency.

Other topics of interest included the Biden administration’s request for EPA to revisit some of the environmental rulings from the prior administration.

NOA is interested in Utah growers’ use of Lorsban and its importance to the industry. Yielding then discussed issues related to trade, using examples to help growers better understand how the markets work and how to help protect the U.S. onion industry.

“We need to stay on top of this to ensure onion movements are fair, treaties are accurately interpreted and local pricing is not adversely affected by imports,” Yielding said.

The Utah Onion Association plans to hold an in-person summer field day in the Davis-Weber counties production region on Aug. 10.

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Greg Yielding, executive vice president of the National Onion Association, speaks about some of the national issues important to the onion industry.

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Less is More Reducing Inputs Benefits Onion Production in Muck Soil

By Karly Regan and Brian Nault, Department of Entomology, Cornell AgriTech, Cornell University

P

rofitable management of any agricultural crop requires optimizing the costs of chemical inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides to maximize crop yield. Another important consideration is to minimize potential negative impacts of chemical inputs on the environment such as pollution and pesticide resistance. In this article, we focus on how reductions in fertilizer and insecticide use impact onion yield, onion thrips control and bulb rot.

Management of onion thrips relies on insecticides to protect foliage from feeding damage and subsequent yield reduction, but also to minimize spread of pathogens that cause foliar and bulb diseases (Fig. 1). In New York, onion thrips typically have three or four overlapping generations each season, requiring multiple insecticide applications. Consequently, insecticide resistance management is really important.

Action thresholds have been developed for onion thrips in onion to guide

A

B Figure 1. Adult and larval thrips tend to cluster near the growing point of onion plants (A) with the larval stage, which is wingless and paler yellow than the adults, causing most of the damage.

Feeding by larvae when infestations are high can lead to loss of chlorophyll, making plants appear white (B). Thrips feeding can exacerbate many onion diseases, including bulb rots (C). Photo A courtesy Joe Ogrodnick, Cornell Weekly

Average # Thrips Larvae/Leaf

Action Threshold

C

Figure 2. Seasonal average densities of thrips larvae in onions treated with an action threshold spray program or weekly spray program in 2020. Because there was no significant effect of fertilizer or interaction between fertilizer rate and spray program, these data are shown averaged across the three fertilizer treatments. Error bars represent standard error, and the asterisk indicates a significant difference between spray programs (Tukey’s HSD, p < 0.05). The number of sprays applied in each program is denoted within each bar to show the range applied to all fields in this trial. The economic injury level of 2.2 thrips larvae per leaf is denoted by the line labeled EIL, and the action threshold of one thrips larva per leaf is denoted by the line labeled AT.

8

Onion World • May / June 2021

decisions on when to make an insecticide application. In New York, the most common action threshold is one thrips per leaf. The best insecticides applied at this action threshold have consistently kept average thrips densities below an economic injury level of 2.2 thrips per leaf over the course of the season, which prevents yield loss.

Although action threshold adoption has shown benefits for reducing insecticide applications and insecticide costs, thrips management still relies on insecticide use as the primary tactic. Thus, there is a need to identify additional tactics to improve integrated pest management of onion thrips.

A cultural tactic that might hold potential for managing onion thrips is applying less fertilizer. For onions grown on mineral soil, onion thrips populations were reduced by 70 percent when less nitrogen was applied. An additional benefit of reducing nitrogen in onion was a reduced incidence of bulb rot.

Optimizing Chemical Inputs to Manage Thrips, Bulb Rot

Our study was conducted in eight muck fields in western and central New York, all of which were planted with a full-season, yellow onion cultivar. Within each field, an area was divided into three sections that received either a full rate of fertilizer that the grower would typically apply, half of that rate and no fertilizer at all (Table 1). Within each fertilizer section, a sub-section was treated weekly with an insecticide spray, while the remaining area was only sprayed following an action threshold of one thrips per leaf. The weekly spray program began in late June and ended when growers made their last application in late August (seven to eight weeks total).

Although there were slightly more thrips in sub-sections of the field treated with insecticides following an action threshold compared with thrips densities in those following a weekly spray program, average thrips densities over the season remained below the economic injury level (Fig. 2). More importantly, onion yield was identical between the two spray programs (Fig. 3). This means that the action-threshold program worked exactly as it was supposed to by preventing thrips populations from reaching an economically damaging level.

Action threshold-treated areas received an average of five sprays compared to seven sprays in the weekly treated areas, allowing growers to save two sprays per season. Over large production areas, this has the potential to add up to big economic savings without any reduction in yield.

Where fertilizer rates were reduced, we saw no impact on either thrips densities, onion yield (Fig. 3) or bulb rot incidence (Fig. 4). In soil samples taken in early May and mid-July, we detected higher levels of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) where a half or full rate of fertilizer

Action Threshold

Weekly

Marketable Yield (ton/acre)

In New York, most onions are grown on muck soils that have a high organic matter content, which can help retain nutrients. Over the past two years, we investigated how reducing fertilizer levels in onions grown on muck soil might reduce thrips infestations and bulb rot. Additionally, we wanted to investigate whether reduction in fertilizer use coupled with an action thresholdbased insecticide program might provide outstanding thrips and bulb rot control, but reduce overall chemical inputs.

Zero Half Full Figure 3. The average marketable yield in each spray program and fertilizer rate combination for 2020. Error bars represent standard error.

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9

Less is More

ActionThreshold Threshold Action

Zero

Conclusions

Overall, reducing chemical inputs such as fertilizer and insecticides is a great way to save money, increase profits, minimize pollution and likely delay insecticide resistance. Although we did not improve management of thrips or bulb rots by reducing fertilizer rates, there were no negative impacts of reducing fertilizer.

We encourage growers to continue soil testing and apply fertilizer based on fertility recommendations, rather than applying fertilizer that is not needed, increasing costs and potentially causing pollution. With no negative impact on yield, we claim that less is more.

Weekly Weekly

Percent of bulbs with rot

was applied relative to no fertilizer (Fig. 5). In contrast, levels of phosphorus (P) did not differ between soil that received fertilizer and those that did not. Even in the plots receiving no fertilizer, we detected phosphorus and potassium levels at or above optimum levels when sampled shortly after planting, indicating that there are substantial stores of nutrients retained in muck soils after years of onion production. Many of these fields would not have needed P and K applied if fertilizer decisions had been based on soil test recommendations. Thus, we have learned that there is certainly potential to reduce applications of N-P-K to save money without impacting yield.

Half

Full

Figure 4. The Theaverage averagepercentage percentageofofbulbs bulbsexhibiting exhibitingsymptoms symptomsofofbulb bulbrot rotinineach eachspray sprayprogram programand Figure 4. and fertilizer combination 2020.

Error represent standard error. fertilizer raterate combination for for 2020.

Error barsbars represent standard error.

Action Threshold Table 1. Rates of fertilizer applied in full- and half-treatment plots across eight fields in our 2020 trial, as well as the rates recommended by the Cornell Vegetable Production Guide for growing vegetables on muck soils. Recommended rates depend on the levels already present in soils when soil test results are received and are presented as a range.

Nitrogen (lb/ac) 2020 Trial fields

Recommended

Phosphorus (lb/ac)

Potassium (lb/ac)

Half

Full

Half

Full

Half

Full

45-60

90-120

50-75

100-150

56-100

112-200

100-125, depending on soil test results

50-150, depending on soil test results

50-150, depending on soil test results

Percent Increase from Zero NPK Applied

Half Full

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Figure 5. Soil nutrient levels from May 2020 (A) and July 2020 (B), shown as the percent difference in nutrients between transects receiving either a half or full rate of fertilizer applied, relative to zero fertilizer applied. Error bars represent standard error, and N.S. denotes no significant difference Figure Soil nutrient levels from May 2020 (A) and July 2020 (B), shown as the percent difference in between zero5. fertilizer and half or full fertilizer.

10

nutrients between transects receiving either a half or full rate of fertilizer applied, relative to zero standard error, and N.S. denotes no significant difference

Onion World • May Junerepresent 2021 fertilizer applied.

Error/ bars

Onion Quiz

This material is provided courtesy of Joel Felix, Associate Professor, Weed Ecology & Management, Oregon State University Malheur Experiment Station.

A Gaining the upper hand on weed control starts with identifying the problem.

B

C

Here are some weeds that can invade onion fields. What is the weed shown in each photo?

Answers on page 15

OnionWorld.net

11

Stop the Rot

Progress Report

Stop the Rot: A National Collaboration to Research, Combat Bacterial Diseases of Onion

By Heather MacKay and Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

T

he Stop the Rot project team has completed the first full season of field and lab work.

The goal of the Stop the Rot project is to develop practical, economically sound strategies for bacterial pathogen detection and management that will improve profitability and sustainability of onion production. It is vital that the research addresses industry priorities and provides tools that will be useful for growers.

Findings from stakeholder surveys in our first year of research confirmed that bacterial diseases and economic losses due to onion rots are a significant economic issue for the onion industry. All the groups surveyed agree that there is no single highly effective management strategy for reducing economic losses and that a combination of diagnostic tools, treatments and management strategies will be needed.

Understanding Bacterial Pathogens

From late 2019 through 2020, researchers across six onion growing regions in the U.S. collected symptomatic onion leaves

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Christy Hoepting with Cornell Extension cuts open onions to check for bacterial rots. Photo courtesy Christy Hoepting, Cornell Extension

and bulbs from fields and storage facilities, from which bacteria were isolated for identification and pathogenicity testing on onion. The purpose of this national bacterial survey, which will be repeated in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, is to get a snapshot of the many types of bacteria present in onion crops across the U.S. While we know Burkholderia, Pantoea, Enterobacter and Xanthomonas are the most common genera of bacteria that cause diseases of onion, and our first year’s bacterial survey turned up these “usual suspects” around the country, we found a surprisingly broad diversity of other bacterial genera associated with symptomatic onion leaves and bulbs. The surveys will help us understand which bacteria are prevalent in different onion production regions and what their roles might be in the progression of bacterial diseases of onion.

Genetic research will be completed with selected pathogenic bacteria from the surveys with the goal of understanding which genes enable these bacteria to cause diseases of onion.

Our team is developing molecular diagnostic tools to allow rapid identification of the pathogenic bacteria, which will help growers respond more effectively to infections in their crops. In the 2021 season, we will be testing methods for detecting onion pathogenic bacteria in soil, irrigation water and other potential sources of inoculum.

Managing Bacterial Diseases in the Field

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Onion World • May / June 2021

Field trials were designed by this team to assess the efficacy of a range of practices and treatments on bacterial diseases, many of which are currently used by growers. The last evaluations of onions in storage from these trials were obtained in February 2021, so we are updating the trial reports with these data to share with onion stakeholders.

Washington State University researcher Mike Derie inoculates a field trial with pathogenic bacteria in the Columbia Basin of Washington.

What is Stop the Rot? Stop the Rot is a four-year research project, funded by the Specialty Crops Research Institute of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), that organizes a team of scientists in diverse disciplines across the U.S. to research the complete system (host, pathogen and environment) of bacterial diseases of onion.

Trial results and extension resources are added to our project website as they become available. Find videos on diagnosing and managing bacterial rots, bookmark our YouTube playlist to catch new videos, and keep up with developments by visiting www. alliumnet.com/projects/stop-the-rot and signing up for our newsletters that are shared a couple of times a year (email stoptherot@gmail.com).

Onions grow in trial plots at Washington State University’s research farm in Pasco, Wash.

Calendar June 24-26 United Fresh 2021 Los Angeles www.unitedfresh.org

July 14-17 National Onion Association Summer Convention Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Nashville, Tenn. www.onions-usa.org

Aug. 10 Utah Onion Association Summer Onion Field Day Weber/Davis County area Dan Drost, (435) 797-2258 or dan.drost@usu.edu Editor’s note: Information was correct at presstime. Please contact event organizers to check for possible changes.

OnionWorld.net

13

Stop the Rot

A crew harvests onion bulbs from field trial plots under smoky skies, resulting from wildfires along the west coast of the U.S., in the Columbia Basin of Washington in 2020.

Irrigation, Fertility

Four states conducted trials in 2020 to assess how irrigation and fertility practices affect onion bacterial diseases. Preliminary results suggest further research is warranted to assess if earlier termination of irrigation can reduce bacterial bulb rot under conditions of high disease pressure without adversely affecting bulb yield.

Bactericides

Bactericides were evaluated in replicated field trials across seven states during 2020: Colorado, Georgia, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. Seven onion cultivars were included across the sites (Avalon, Calibra, Century, Granero, Redwing, Salute and Vaquero), and 22 products were evaluated across the trials.

An onion sampled from a field in 2020 shows internal symptoms of bacterial rot. Onions were sampled from growers’ crops in 10 states in 2020 to determine which bacteria are associated with bacterial diseases of onion across regions of production in the U.S.

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Onion World • May / June 2021

Cultural, Post-Harvest Practices

We tested various late-season cultural practices in field trials in Georgia, New York and Washington to see how these influence bacterial diseases. These included variations in practices such as the timing and method of topping onion bulbs, rolling the tops and undercutting bulbs, as well as harvest methods (mechanical vs. manual). The trials will be repeated in 2021, along with a trial in Georgia to evaluate the impact of onion neck length after topping on development of bacterial bulb rots.

We also tested four commercially available products applied to onion bulbs after harvest to assess the efficacy of these products at suppressing bacterial bulb rots in storage. The trial was completed in a simulated storage facility, and a video of the setup is available at youtu.be/VSExAvjJAT8. Final results will be shared this summer.

What’s Next?

The 2021 bacterial surveys have commenced in early onion production regions in Georgia and Texas. Many of the field trials will be repeated in 2021, and the Washington state team is adding trials to investigate the interaction of select herbicides with bactericides for managing onion diseases.

Extension publications, research summaries and disease notes covering results of the first year of the Stop the Rot project will be published in summer 2021. These, along with other information the team generates, will be available at www.alliumnet.com/projects/stop-the-rot.

Authors’ note: This work is supported by Specialty Crops Research Initiative Award 2019-51181-30013 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 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.

Onion Quiz Answers From page 11

Photo A depicts dodder (Cuscuta spp) entangling onion seedlings.

Dodder is a parasitic weed that derives all of its nourishment from a susceptible host. Once the seed germinates and emerges, it has to find a host (which it does with precision) within five to 10 days or risk withering off and dying. Dodder lacks roots or the ability to photosynthesize, thus deriving all of the nutrients by parasitizing the host. It produces a large number of seeds that could remain viable in the soil for over 20 years.

GROWING

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PARTNERSHIPS Photos B and C are of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) seedling and mature plant, respectively. Redroot pigweed emerges late when more than 350 growing degree days have accumulated. It is capable of producing a large number of seeds per plant per year. Other members of the genus Amaranthus (waterhemp and Palmer amaranth) have developed resistance to glyphosate (the chemical found in Rounduptype products) and cause greater production challenges to crop growers in areas where they exist.

Todd Rehrman Area Sales Manager West Coast 209-226-5725 t.rehrman@enzazaden.com

René Emch Senior Product Specialist Pacific NorthWest 657-276-1021 r.emch@enzazaden.com

Javier Russek Senior Product Specialist Dealer Sales West 831-240-5736 j.russek@enzazaden.com

OnionWorld.net

15

In the News

Shuman Earns Grower of the Year Award

The Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) has selected John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms in Cobbtown, Georgia, as the 2020 Grower of the Year in recognition of his more than 25 years of contributions to the industry.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Buck Shuman, who began growing Vidalia onions in the 1980s, John Shuman took over his family’s farm in the early 1990s.

Today, Shuman Farms is one of the largest growers of Vidalia onions.

Shuman has served as VOC chairman and chairman of the board of the Southeast Produce Council. In addition, he founded in 2002 what is now known as the Healthy Family project, which has raised more than $7 million to benefit children and families.

Shuman Farms also gives annual donations to Feeding America and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

2021 Summer Convention & Auction Nashville, Tennessee

July 14-17 Register by June 4

NOA in the Music City Members: Log in to the member center onions-usa.org to register

Call (970) 353-5895 16

Onion World • May / June 2021

Liphatech Announces Anniversary Offers

Liphatech’s Rozol brand is celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the EPA registration of Liphatech’s first active ingredient, chlorophacinone.

Rozol is used to manage field rodent infestations to reduce damage to crops and property. Rozol is labeled for use on ground squirrels, black-tailed prairie dogs, pocket gophers, rats, mice and voles on farms in many states.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary, Liphatech is inviting growers, applicators and crop advisors to share their Rozol success stories in exchange for a vintage T-shirt. In addition, for growers purchasing Rozol, Liphatech is offering an online rebate that allows payback for nearly any combination of Rozol brands.

For details, visit www.liphatech.com/rozol50.

Vidalia Onions Hit the Market

Vidalia onion producers began shipping onions April 19, 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.

Approximately 10,000 acres of Vidalia onions were planted for the 2021 season.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Vidalia Onion Act

by Georgia’s legislature. The Vidalia Onion Act established that only sweet onions grown in 20 southern Georgia counties from a distinctive Granex seed and packed and sold on or after the official pack date each year can be called Vidalia onions.

Hand-cultivated by 60 registered growers, Vidalia onions represent about 40 percent of the nation’s sweet onion market and are sold in every state.

Kentucky Derby Menu Features Vidalia Onions

Vidalia onions are bringing a touch of extra sweetness to this year’s Kentucky Derby.

For the first time, the Vidalia Onion Committee is partnering with the Kentucky Derby as an event sponsor.

Vidalia onions will be featured in two dishes on the official Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby menu. Guests at the racetrack for “The Run for the Roses” will be served a Chicken with Vidalia Onion and Mushroom Sauce and a Vidalia Onion, Bourbon Sorghum Vinaigrette on a Black Eye Pea Salad, both crafted by Churchill Downs’ executive chef. The Kentucky Derby posted recipes for both dishes on its website.

Onion World Buyers Guide_Sept2018_Layout 1 9/25/2018 9:17 AM Page 1

Portuguese Company Acquires Oro Agri

Rovensa, a Portugal-based company, has acquired Oro Agri Inc. Oro Agri currently distributes its crop protection products in 85 countries.

The acquisition will allow Oro Agri to offer new active ingredients and crop protection products to its customers.

This includes products in Rovensa’s organic and bio-rational portfolio, as well as bio-pesticide crop protection products. In return, Oro Agri will provide a sales and marketing team in North America and other markets not currently served by Rovensa.

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16155 North High Desert Street • Nampa, ID 83687 WWW.SEEDWAY.COM OnionWorld.net

17

New Products

HydroSide Systems Rolls Out New Wheel Mover

HydroSide Systems has developed a patent-pending hydroelectric irrigation wheel line mover. The Hydro Mover is a hydro-powered, self-charging, all-electric, remote-operated system. The company bills it as “bringing precision irrigation tech to old-school techniques.”

With the Hydro Mover, water comes into the line and spins a turbine. This power is stored in onboard batteries that power the system. Once the line is drained, operators can move the line to the next set with the click of a button.

Visit www.hydroside.com.

Soiltech Sells All-in-One Crop Sensor

Soiltech has developed a versatile sensor to wirelessly monitor the growth, transportation and storage of a wide range of crops. It can be used to track moisture, temperature, humidity, location and impacts on the crop.

Users bury the sensor where they want to measure moisture and temperature. The sensor takes a reading every 15 minutes and wirelessly sends data to a phone or computer. This recording of irrigation events, soil temperature and other trend lines can be used in making decisions from the start of the growing season through the end of harvest.

The sensor has a one-year battery life to minimize trips to the field, and batteries are rechargeable.

Visit www.soiltechwireless.com.

!

NEW

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

Under the Nunhems Brand, BASF offers more than vegetable seeds.

We offer partnerships and customer-oriented solutions for the entire vegetable value chain.

BASF Vegetable Seeds 1200 Anderson Corner Rd Parma, ID 83660 (208) 674-4100 www.nunhemsusa.com

18

Onion World • May / June 2021

Eqraft Introduces New Bagger

The 2021 version of the Eqraft Rollstockbagger BSM 3 is now available. The machine is a fast, reliable and cost-efficient solution for packing large onion volumes, according to the company. The use of polypropylene roll stock enables the machine to fill up to 1,100 bags per hour. The unit can also be used as a baling or repacking solution. It is compatible with various scales and ribbon equipment and can be combined with the Baxmatic and other Eqraft equipment to create a flexible packing line.

Visit www.eqraft.com.

Expect More Than Great Seed

OnionWorld.net

19

AMERICAN TAKII SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETIES 301 Natividad Rd. Salinas, CA 93906 Phone: (831) 443-4901 www.takii.com • info@takii.com

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.

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.

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.

BEJO SHOR SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETIES Phone: (805) 473-2199 www.bejoseeds.com info@bejoseeds.com

Alison

Alison is a later-maturing short-day Granex variety with upright tops and a deeper, highyielding Granex shape. The variety has bolting resistance, is very uniform and works well for the later-season slot in Vidalia.

20

Macon

1972 Silver Spur Place Oceano, CA 93445

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.

Onion World • May / June 2021

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.

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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.

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.

Superex

Superex is an early, short-day onion suited for tropic and sub-tropic climates. Jumbosized 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.

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.

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Tania

Tania is a short-day yellow Granex nion with strong, upright, healthy tops with great plant habit. With early-main-season maturity, the variety has a high-yielding, deeper Granex shape, strong root system and firm bulbs.

OnionWorld.net

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CROOKHAM SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETIES P.O. Box 520 Caldwell, ID 83605 Phone: (208) 459-7451 ccoinfo@crookham.com www.crookham.com

Crown

Crown is a dependable full-season onion with 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.

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

Merlin

Merlin is an early-to-main-season short-day yellow variety that produces a firm uniform bulb. It also has the Celebrate plant structure to give it an extra boost against stress and make it grower friendly. These qualities help make it a good fit for a short-day program.

It has high tolerance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting.

Red Rock

Red Rock demonstrates good size with excellent internal dark red color and a good single center percentage. Red Rock has a very good red scale and produces a nice firm bulb that can be stored several months. It has high tolerance to bolting and good tolerance to pink root and Fusarium.

DP SEEDS SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETIES

8269 E. US Hwy. 95 Yuma, AZ 85365 Phone: (928) 341-8494 www.dpseeds.com info@dpseeds.com

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.

22

Onion World • May / June 2021

Georgia Boy F1

Georgia Boy F1 is a hybrid short-day yellow onion. With its very mild, sweet flavor, Georgia Boy F1 is ideal for the production of sweet onions. This seed variety has been a high producer in University of Georgia trials.

It has medium tolerance to pink root.

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Somerset

Your product deserves perfection!

Somerset is a main-to-late-season variety that has a nice deep copper color and a globe-shaped bulb. Somerset is also known for its strong disease package and consistent yields.

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Sapelo Sweet F1

Sapelo Sweet F1 is a hybrid short-day onion of mid-maturity. The 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.

Verbruggen - North America Office: (509) 531-7350 www.verbruggen-palletizing.com/onions

OnionWorld.net

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ENZA ZADEN SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETIES

Javier Russek, Product Specialist, Onions Phone: (831) 240-5736 www.enzazaden.us j.russek@enzazaden.com Rene Emch, Sr. Product Specialist, Onions Phone: (657) 276-1021 r.emch@enzazaden.com

Cabernet F1

Cabernet is a medium-sized, intermediate red onion for storage, fresh market or export.

With a vigorous plant habit, Cabernet produces uniform globe-shaped bulbs of outstanding holding ability and quality.

Excellent internal ring color development combined with single centers and partial resistance to foliar diseases make this variety a standard for organic onion production.

Typical harvest is July through August, offering earliness, firmness and four- to six-month storability. The variety is also available in organic form from Vitalis Organic Seeds.

Elsye F1

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. As a bonus, Elsye’s mild flavor profile would allow it to be packed as a sweet onion, adding to Elsye’s marketing flexibility. The variety is also available in organic form from Vitalis Organic Seeds.

HAZERA SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-DAY VARIETIES

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

Joelino

This vigorous main-season yellow shortday 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, globeshaped bulbs with strong skins.

24

Onion World • May / June 2021

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.

Gabriella F1

The uniform bulbs of Gabriella have a mild to sweet flavor and an attractive globe shape.

This variety is suited for fresh market and short-term storage and is also available in organic form from Vitalis Organic Seeds.

Madalyn F1

Madalyn is an early-to-mid short-day onion.

It produces globe-shaped, bronze-colored bulbs between 2.4 and 4.3 inches. The variety is also available in organic form from Vitalis Organic Seeds.

Monastrell F1

Monastrell is an intermediate-day onion that boasts high quality bulbs. Plants are upright and strong against disease. With round to slightly flat shapes, this dark red onion shows strong sunscald tolerance. Monastrell matures slightly later than Cabernet and is larger in size. This variety has excellent internal ring color development and impressive storage capability for its class. It is also available in organic form from Vitalis Organic Seeds.

PRECISION VACUUM PLANTERS

Tਈਅ ਐ਌ਁ਎ਔਅ਒ ਕਓਅ਄ ਂਙ ਓਕਃ​ਃਅਓਓਆਕ਌ ਏ਎ਉਏ਎ ਇ਒ਏਗਅ਒ਓ ਉ਎ ਔਈਅ Wਅਓਔਅ਒਎ U਎ਉਔਅ਄ Sਔਁਔਅਓ ਁ਎਄ Cਁ਎ਁ਄ਁ ਆਏ਒ ਏਖਅ਒ 25 ਙਅਁ਒ਓ 3 Modules - 24 Lines Model # AI-640-SNT Shown

Our proven accurate seed placement is why growers have continued to purchase our planters over these many years.

Special inner and outer singulators removes doubles to insure placement of individual seeds.

Red Sea

All planters are assembled and tested at our plant in Chino, California, to insure accuracy.

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.

13477 Benson Ave. • Chino, CA 91710 Ph: 800.833.3023 • Fax: 909.548.4747 www.gearmore.com

Onion World Ad

OnionWorld.net

25

From the NOA

Get Ready for an NOA Summer Convention Do-Over

By René Hardwick, National Onion Association Director of Public and Industry Relations

I

t’s 2021. Do you see your shadow?

Having been cooped up for the better part of the year, we hope you will join the National Onion Association in Nashville, Tennessee, this summer.

That’s right, we’re getting a do-over.

We’re going to spend four great days in the Music City, with lots of people needing to get out and mingle, have a little fun and do a little business.

Now, we tried the online thing. And we learned a few lessons.

First, online meetings may be the next best thing, but tell us the truth. Were you even engaged in the last Zoom meeting you were in, or were you checking emails like many others, hoping to get a little work done while you listened? The energy of human interaction just isn’t there.

The NOA’s summer online convention attracted roughly half of the people we normally get the pleasure of visiting with each summer. And our online summer auction was a pretty good one this year, even though it was held in cyberspace. In fact, we had some of the best donations we’ve ever had, such as an onion lifter

by Top Air Inc., a south Texas deer hunt by Fox Packaging and a great getaway on Lake Ontario, complete with a day fishing charter,

Large Onion Peeler

by Torrey Farms in New York. But without the energy that comes alive in person, the auction was more of a sales event, rather than an event with a little entertainment complete with great bidding wars.

We can say we made a little lemonade out of the 2020 lemons, but it is time to get back to business and allow our members to engage while possibly enjoying a Bushwacker at a honkytonk down Broadway.

We’re bringing back Austin Booker for our annual summer auction, which benefits the promotions fund. We’re getting some interest in big donations this year again from Top Air Inc., which earned our Promotions Champion award last year for its donation of an onion lifter. We’d encourage others in the industry to think of ways they can donate to help this auction raise money for, frankly, an amazing cause: marketing onions across the nation. All of your marketing dollars go toward putting onions in the spotlight with great recipes and promotions to get in front of a lot of people. And that doesn’t come cheap.

Donations and fundraising for the promotions fund was down considerably in 2020, and we need to make up for it in 2021 while we explore new ways to keep onions as a healthy part of people’s meals and take advantage of a new culture of cooking at home.

This auction is open for anyone to donate. If you feel strongly about supporting onion promotions, your donation will be accepted.

Only members will be bidding on items at the convention, so you can count on your donation being picked up by someone in your industry.

As of this writing, the agenda has not yet been set, but rest assured, our Executive Vice President, Greg Yielding, will be busy drumming up speakers for good discussions about hot political topics in the industry.

If you’re not a member, consider joining. The National Onion Association is serious about making onions a part of the conversation that deals with ag-related policymaking. You may attend our conventions as a non-member, as long as a current member sponsors you. Feel free to call our office in Colorado to ask any questions: (970) 353-5895.

Our convention this year will be July 14-17 at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown. Check our website often at www.onions-usa.org for rates and the agenda.

Advertiser Index

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26

Onion World • May / June 2021

Bejo ................................... 5 Chinook Equipment ......... 18 Clearwater Supply ........... 18 CMI .................................. 23 Crookham ........................ 19 Disinfecting Services ......... 5 Enza Zaden ..................... 15 Fox Packaging ................... 9 Fox Solutions ..................... 7 Gearmore ........................ 25 Kerian .............................. 14 L&M ................................. 11 Modern Produce ................ 5

Modern Produce .............. 12 Modern Produce .............. 26 Nichino............................. 28 Nunhems ......................... 18 NOA ................................. 16 Oro Agri ............................. 2 Pirrung ............................. 21 Redwood Empire Awning 15 Rietveld Equipment ........... 3 Seedway .......................... 17 Top Air.............................. 27 Verbruggen ...................... 23

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