Onion World November 2021 by Columbia Media Group

For the Advertiser Index click here

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Creating Tomorrow Today

Table of Contents Magazines For Maximum Yield

ONION WORLD Volume 37, Number 7

November 2021

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 2022 Buyers' Guide 28 Crookham Drops 2 for '22

Publisher / Advertising Manager Dave Alexander dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com

New Varieties Epic and Defender

30 Utah State Heads to the Shed and On to Outside Utah Onion Association Summer Tour

32 Oppressive Heat Hammers Treasure Valley Yields Malheur Experiment Station Onion Variety Day

36 Q&A With U.S. Secretary of Ag 38 Michigan Tradition Michigan Onion Variety Trial

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.

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.

Crystal Fowler tells attendees at the Utah Onion Association Summer Tour that primed onion seed would be beneficial to use in colder soil and when planting earlier. See story on page 30.

On the Cover The 2022 Buyers' Guide will give you choices in crop inputs, equipment, parts, onion seed, shippers, storage and more. See guide starting on page 6.

Onion World • November 2021

Departments 40 41 42 42

Calendar Onion Disease Quiz 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.

WBH FARMS NYSSA, OR

LIFTERS / DIGGERS

TOPPER WINDROWERS

TOPPER LOADERS

EFFICIENT UNDERCUTTING AND WINDROWING

TOP AND CURE ONIONS IN WINDROWS

INDUSTRY LEADING CAPACITY FOR OPERATIONS OF ALL SIZES

• RIGID FRAME + FOLDING MODELS IN A WIDE RANGE OF CONFIGURATIONS

INFO@TOPAIRINC.COM

• HIGH CAPACITY • GENTLE HANDLING • STANDARD + XL MODELS

WWW.TOPAIR.AG

+1.208.722.6936

• LOAD UP TO 3.5 TONS /MIN • BEST IN CLASS TOPPING + DIRT ELIMINATION

t pair I N C O R P O R AT ED

2022 Buyers’ Guide T

here are a lot of moving parts involved in growing and marketing an onion crop - from needing the right products to protect your crop from pests and pathogens to having the right equipment to efficiently navigate the season. For most growers, packers and shippers, this translates into a constant todo list, shopping list and wish list. Whether your list has you searching for a new harvester or just some innovative irrigation equipment, you’ll find a comprehensive list of suppliers in Onion World’s 2022 Buyers’ Guide.

CROP INPUTS ........................... 7 Fertilizers/Growth Promoters Fungicides Herbicides Insecticides/Pesticides/Fumigants

EQUIPMENT ............................. 8 Bagging/Packaging Covers Extraction Handling Harvesters/Harvesting Lifters Loaders Planters Processing Scales/Weighing Sizing/Sorting Tillage Toppers/Tailers Windrowers

MISCELLANEOUS ..................... 18 Auctioneers Consulting Labs Irrigation Pollination Covers

Onion World • November 2021

PARTS ....................................19 Belting/Chain Pinch Rolls Wear Parts

SEED ......................................20 Onion Seed Seed Cages Seed Treatments Organic Seed Treatments Seed Coating/Pelleting Seed Films/Seed Priming

SHIPPERS ................................. 24 STORAGE ................................... 26 Bins Chemicals for Storage Construction Dehumidifying Equipment Refrigeration & Cooling Temperature Monitoring Ventilation/Humidification

CROP INPUTS ROWTH PROMOTERS FERTILIZERS/ GROWTH PROMOTERS Agro-K

8030 Main Street, NE Minneapolis, MN 55432-1844 (763) 780-4116 www.agro-k.com Sysstem-Advance

Chemport, Inc.

1716 Montana Ave. El Paso, TX 79902 (800) 247-2480 or Walt Grigg (509) 952-7558 www.nutri-cal.com

FUNGICIDES Corteva Agriscience

Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us

INSECTICIDES PESTICIDES FUMIGANTS

Fontelis fungicide Tanos fungicide

Corteva Agriscience

Gowan USA

Radiant insecticide Lannate LV insecticide Vydate L insecticide/nematicide Entrust insecticide

(800) 883-1844 www.gowanco.com

Badge SC and Badge X2 fungicide/bactericide, Botran fungicide, Gavel 75DF fungicide, Zing! fungicide, Reason broad-spectrum foliar fungicide

Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us

Gowan USA

(800) 883-1844 www.gowanco.com

Aza-Direct botanical insecticide, M-Pede insecticide/fungicide, Reason broad-spectrum foliar fungicide

Nutri-Cal: The calcium solution

Syngenta

www.syngenta-us.com/fungicides/miravisprime

Crop Vitality

(800) 525-2803 www.cropvitality.com

CaTs calcium thiosulfate liquid fertilizer

Nutrien

www.liquidcropnutrients.com CAN17 liquid fertilizer

Oro Agri

Formulated with a powerful combination of fludioxonil and Adepidyn® fungicide, the most potent SDHI ever developed, Miravis® Prime fungicide gives vegetable growers a more powerful option for controlling a broader disease spectrum.

Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties.

Nichino America, Inc.

4550 Linden Hill Road, Suite 501 Wilmington, DE 19808 (888) 740-7700 www.nichino.net Torac insecticide

HERBICIDES Corteva Agriscience

Syngenta

Starane Ultra herbicide

Harnessing the power of two complementary active ingredients, cyantraniliprole and abamectin, in one convenient premix formulation, Minecto® Pro insecticide protects against the toughest onion pests.

Indianapolis, IN www.corteva.us

2788 S. Maple Ave. Fresno, CA 93725 www.oroagriusa.com

NANOCAL sub-micronized calcium

www.syngenta-us.com/insecticides/ minecto-pro

Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Minecto Pro is a Restricted Use Pesticide.

Gowan USA Redox

130 S 100 W Burley, ID 83318 (208) 678-2610 www.redoxgrows.com

Redox is a bio-nutrient company that focuses on sustainable plant nutrition. Each Redox product has been scientifically developed to address specific plant needs in four key areas: Abiotic Stress Defense, Soil Health, Yield & Quality, and Root Development.

(800) 883-1844 www.gowanco.com Vida herbicide

Teleos Ag Solutions (833) 679-1942 www.teleosag.com

Telone IITM soil fumigant

OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT BAGGING/PACKAGING PACKING/ PALLETIZING Chinook Equipment Inc.

P.O. Box 15554, Boise, ID 83715 (208) 331-1126 chinookequipment@gmail.com www.chinookequipment.com

Eqraft

Baxmatic 100% Fully-automated Bagger, Sewing Lane, Bag Laser Printing, Jumbo Bag Fillers, Bin Fillers, intermachine communication

Ernst Roll Sizer

P.O. Box 70155 Bakersfield, CA 93387 (661) 831-7553 ernstmfg@aol.com

Sizers, sorters, conveyors, bin dumpers, complete lines

Fox Solutions

Texas Location: 2200 Fox Drive McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-6176 New York Location: 210 Walnut Street Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 201-1632 info@foxbag.com www.solutionsbyfox.com

Fox Solutions sets the standard for equipment quality and safety with full stainless steel construction and comprehensive pack line solutions, partnering with best-in-class equipment brands including Newtec, Haith and C-Pack

Lanfeld Packaging 468 Spalding Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (213) 369-4449 alvlan@aol.com

Lee Shuknecht & Sons 4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com Baggers

Rietveld Equipment Fox Packaging

2200 Fox Drive McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-6176 info@foxbag.com www.foxbag.com

Fox Packaging manufactures innovative, flexible packaging solutions that extend product shelf-life, showcase the natural beauty of the product, provide a great foundation for design and streamline operations

4067 E. 4000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 936-9800 john@rietveldequipment.com www.rietveldequipment.com

Distributor for Allround, Tosca, PIM, and Meconaf

SYMACH Palletizers

315 27th Ave NE Minneapolis MN 55418 (612) 760-8864 marco.maljaars@bwpackagingsystems.com www.symach.nl/en/ Specialists in onion palletizing, pallet wrapping, and conveying systems

Onion World • November 2021

ThorPack

W6788 5th Avenue Road Bryant, WI 54418 (715) 627-7333 www.thorpack.com

Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag Vertical elevators

Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions Inc.

North America Sales & Service Center Visitors: 5804 Road 90 Suite D Pasco, WA 99301 Mail: 5426 North Road 68 Suite D122 Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 531-7350 info@verbruggenusa.com www.www.verbruggen-palletizing.com

Verbruggen is a worldwide supplier of palletizing, wrapping and product handling solutions for bags, crates and cartons.

Volm Companies

Antigo, WI (Corporate Headquarters) 1804 Edison St. Antigo, WI 54409 (800) 253-4737 Idaho Falls, ID 3721 W 65th South Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 524-0600 Pasco, WA 5702 Industrial Way Suite 101 Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 547-3437 Fresno, CA 3440 S East Ave. Suite 104 Fresno, CA 93725 (800) 253-4737 Monte Vista, CO 1100 S Country Rd 3 E Monte Vista, CO 81144 (719) 852-3499 Ancaster, ON 1283 Cormorant Dr. Unit 1 Ancaster, ON L9G 4V5 (905) 648-7300 www.volmcompanies.com

EQUIPMENT BAGGING/PACKAGING PACKING/ PALLETIZING (CONT.)

Redwood Empire Awning Co. 3547 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 588-9900 mike@redwoodempireawning.com www.redwoodempireawning.com Equipment covers

Yakima Label

925 N. 5th Ave. Yakima, WA 98902 (509) 955-8400 josh@yakimalabel.com www.yakimalabel.com

EXTRACTION JDC Extraction

527 W. McGregor Dr., Suite 527 Boise, Idaho 83705 www.jdcextraction.com (208) 577-5375

Custom packaging labels

HANDLING

COVERS Eqraft

Jumbo Bag Fillers, Roller Tracks, Bin Tippers, Hoppers, Conveyors, Storage Bunkers, intermachine communication

Ernst Roll Sizer

P.O. Box 70155 Bakersfield, CA 93387 (661) 831-7553 ernstmfg@aol.com

Sizers, Sorters, Conveyors, Bin Dumpers, Complete Lines

BEJO LONG DAY STORAGE ONIONS Exploring nature never stops RED WING

HAMILTON

RED BULL

LEGEND

Our best long day red storage onion. High quality, large, dark red, 2.75-3.75” bulbs. Thick skin, good scale retention, very hard. Internal color continues to develop during storage

Hamilton is a classy, exceptionally hard, full season blocky globe, with deep copper skins. It performs nicely on gravity, drip and overhead irrigation systems. This onion’s extremely long term storage ability positions it as a leader to satisfy late market needs.

Long day red onion. Late season maturity with good long term storage ability. Large and hard, with excellent dark red color throughout. Vigorous tops and roots.

Long-term storage. Jumbo bulb. Full season yellow with a vigorous root system.

IR: Pt

IR: Foc / Pt

bejoseeds.com f Bejo Seeds Inc. (main office) 1972 Silver Spur Pl. Oceano, CA | T: 805- 473-2199 | E: info@bejoseeds.com f OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT HANDLING (CONT.) Kerian Machines

Fox Solutions

Texas Location: 2200 Fox Drive McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-6176 New York Location: 210 Walnut Street Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 201-1632 info@foxbag.com www.solutionsbyfox.com

JDC Extraction

527 W. McGregor Dr., Suite 527 Boise, Idaho 83705 www.jdcextraction.com (208) 577-5375

P.O. Box 311, Grafton, ND 58237 (701) 352-0480 sales@kerian.com www.kerian.com Kerian Speed Sizer

Lee Shuknecht & Sons 4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com

Modern Produce Equipment

5118 W. 72nd Street Fremont, MI 49412 (800) 663-8640 tom@modernproduceequipment.com www.modernproduceequipment.com

We design and install a variety of vegetable handling and potato processing equipment. From single machines to full vegetable handling & grading systems.

Rietveld Equipment

4067 E. 4000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 936-9800 john@rietveldequipment.com www.rietveldequipment.com

Distributor for Allround, Tosca, PIM, and Meconaf

Expect More Than Great Seed

Onion World • November 2021

Volm Companies

EQUIPMENT HARVESTERS/ HARVESTING ASA-Lift w. Miller Farms US Office: Miller Farms Hancock, WI (715) 249-5160 pmillerfarms@gmail.com www.asa-lift.com

Eqraft

Custom-designed unloading stations and grading solutions, Storage Bunkers, Warehousing, Sample Takers, Tangled Product Separators

Greentronics, Inc. 75 Arthur Street North Elmira, ON N3B 2A1 (519) 669-4698 www.greentronics.com

RiteTrace automated track and trace system. Records and tracks loads from known field locations to known storage locations. Included HarvestView software generates Field and Bin maps with reports by load, field, and date. Integrates with Greentronic’s RiteYield yield monitor, specially developed for root crop and vegetable harvesters. Both systems are available to run on displays from John Deere and Trimble, allowing users to view a yield map and other details in real time. Free demo program.

L&M Specialty Fabrication, LLC 4868 East Saile Drive Batavia NY 14020 (585) 283-4847 www.turbotopharvester.com

Lee Shuknecht & Sons 4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com Harvesters, toppers

Rietveld Equipment

4067 E. 4000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 936-9800 john@rietveldequipment.com www.rietveldequipment.com

Distributor for Allround, Tosca, PIM, and Meconaf

Turbo Top self-propelled harvester

Superior control of downy mildew & purple blotch - Locally systemic, foliar fungicide - Consistent, reliable control - Direct spore-killing effect - Prevents sporulation before it can spread to healthy tissue FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GOWAN USA SALES REP

OR VISIT GOWANCO.COM Reason® is a registered trademark of Gowan Company, L.L.C. Alwyas read and follow label directions.

OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT HARVESTERS/ HARVESTING (CONT.)

Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

Univerco (1978) Inc 713 RTE 219 Napierville, QC Canada J0J 1L0 (450) 245-7152 www.univerco.com

One-row and two-row onion harvesters One- to three-row onion windrowers Topper tables for packing lines

LIFTERS Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

LOADERS Eqraft

Custom-designed loading stations, Evenflows, Conveyors, Bin Fillers and Roller Tracks, intermachine communication

Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

Onion World • November 2021

EQUIPMENT PLANTERS

Gearmore, Inc.

13477 Benson Ave. Chino, CA 91710 (800) 833-3023 sales@gearmore.com www.gearmore.com

SEEDWAY_Onion World_Oct2021_Layout 1 10/4/2021 2:52 PM Page 1

Lee Shuknecht & Sons 4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 www.shuknecht.com mail@shuknecht.com

Your Acres. Your Livelihood. Our Priority.

Mel Beck Precision Planters LLC 214 Thunderegg Blvd. Nyssa, OR 97913 (541) 372-3532 rbeck@fmtc.com www.precisionplanters.com Multi-line planters since 1956

Milton Planters

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

Monosem Inc.

1001 Blake Street Edwardsville, KS 66111 (913) 438-1700 www.monosem-inc.com

Custom Planters Built-to-Order

Solex

Solex Corporation 220 South Jefferson St. Dixon, CA 95620 (707) 678-5533 sales@solexcorp.com

UNITED STATES Lancaster & San Joaquin Valley (661) 9785342 Desert Southwest (928) 4467737 Colorado & New Mexico (970) 3969728 Idaho, East Oregon, Utah & Nevada (208) 9411421 Skagit Valley, Washington (360) 9417503 Rio Grande Valley & West Texas (956) 6185574

MEXICO Torreón, Coahuila (461) 1173878 Colima, Col. (461) 1040134 San Luis Potosi (461) 1409452 Chihuahua (461) 1719401 Tamaulipas (461) 1342421 Irapuato, Gto. (461) 5465792

Stanhay planters, Gaspardo planters, Checchi-Magli transplanters & Seed Spider

Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

(800) 952-7333 WWW.SEEDWAY.COM OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT Eqraft

PROCESSING CMI Equipment and Engineering 41663 170th Street Glencoe, MN 55336 (320) 864-5894 althea@cmiequip-eng.com www.cmiequip-eng.com

CMI Equipment and Engineering is a metal fabrication company specializing in manufacturing industrial food processing equipment such as onion peelers, onion slicers, wash tanks, chill plates, tote dumps, conveyors.

Proud member Onion Tech Alliance Norman “Snap” Keene George, WA 98824 Office: (509) 785-2202 Cell: (509) 797-5848 info@eqraft.com www.eqraft.com We build fully automated onion facilities with solutions ranging from grading and weighing to packing and palletizing. 100% fully-automated onion peeler, fully automatic onion grader, complete automatic turnkey onion lines with inventory statistics

Kerian Machines

P.O. Box 311, Grafton, ND 58237 (701) 352-0480 sales@kerian.com www.kerian.com

Lee Shuknecht & Sons

4458 Ford Road, Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com Grading, packing, sizing, sorting

Ernst Mfg.

Chinook Equipment Inc.

P.O. Box 70155 Bakersfield, CA 93387 (661) 831-7553 ernstmfg@aol.com

P.O. Box 15554 Boise, ID 83715 (208) 331-1126 chinookequipment@gmail.com www.chinookequipment.com

Sizers, Sorters, Conveyors, Bin Dumpers, Complete Lines

JDC Extraction

527 W. McGregor Dr., Suite 527 Boise, Idaho 83705 www.jdcextraction.com (208) 577-5375

M & P Engineering Ltd 505 S. Division Ave Fremont, MI 49412 (231) 924-6437 sales@mpspares.com www.mpspares.com

Onion peeling machines for fresh cut and process applications. Single machines or complete lines are available.

The latest development from Stanhay; 50 years of precision planting experience has gone into designing this row unit. The ProAir is a compact, lightweight but durable row unit packed with adjustability and options to suit any type of ground condition or planting pattern. As all previous models the Pro Air can plant one, two or three lines from one metering unit.

1. Adjustable row unit down force 6. Unobstructed access to the metering unit for 2. Adjustable rear wheel down force maintenance and changing seed discs 3. Single bolt adjustment to switch between hyline and loline setups 7. Independently articulating seed press wheels with 4. Infinitely adjustable depth control measurable to a 0.1mm adjustable downforce accuracy via mechanical counter 8. Individual scraper blades on each stainless steel press 5. Sealed maintenance free flexible drive shaft wheel 9. Ability to latch row unit our of work

www.solexcorp.com • (707)678-5533 14

Onion World • November 2021

EQUIPMENT PROCESSING (CONT.)

Modern Produce Equipment

5118 W. 72nd Street Fremont, MI 49412 (800) 663-8640 tom@modernproduceequipment.com www.modernproduceequipment.com

We design and install a variety of vegetable handling and potato processing equipment. From single machines to full vegetable handling & grading systems.

Your product deserves perfection! “Reliable and durable, more than 500,000 pallets stacked at full satisfaction.”

Rietveld Equipment

4067 E. 4000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 936-9800 john@rietveldequipment.com www.rietveldequipment.com

W. Waterman Waterman Onions

Distributor for Allround, Tosca, PIM, and Meconaf

SCALES/WEIGHING

Exceptional stacking

Reduce Labor and risk

High ROI

Get q u o t e yo u r f r e e and la yo u t !

Eqraft

Combination scales, weights from 1 to 50# in 1 drop, 16 weighing heads, high capacity, high speed, easy maintenance, and internet + database connectivity

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

OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT SCALES/WEIGHING (CONT.)

SIZING/SORTING Ernst Roll Sizer P.O. Box 70155 Bakersfield, CA 93387 (661) 831-7553 ernstmfg@aol.com

Fox Solutions

Texas Location: 2200 Fox Drive, McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-6176 New York Location: 210 Walnut Street, Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 201-1632 info@foxbag.com www.solutionsbyfox.com

Greentronics, Inc. 75 Arthur Street North Elmira, ON N3B 2A1 (519) 669-4698 www.greentronics.com

RiteWeight in-line conveyor system

Volm Companies

Onion World • November 2021

Sizers, Sorters, Conveyors, Bin Dumpers, Complete Lines

Fox Solutions

Texas Location: 2200 Fox Drive, McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-6176 New York Location: 210 Walnut Street, Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 201-1632 info@foxbag.com www.solutionsbyfox.com

Kerian Machines

P.O. Box 311, Grafton, ND 58237 (701) 352-0480 sales@kerian.com www.kerian.com

Lee Shuknecht & Sons

4458 Ford Road, Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com

Volm Companies

TILLAGE Ag Engineering

P.O. Box 2814 Tri-Cities, WA 99302 (800) 627-9099 (509) 582-8900 sales@dammerdiker.com www.dammerdiker.com

Reservoir tillage, Dammer Diker and Pocket Pitter

Tong Engineering

505 S. Division Ave. Fremont, MI 49412 (231) 924-5647 sales@tongengineering.com www.tongengineering.com

Tong is a world leading manufacturer of advanced and gentle onion sizing, sorting, unloading, dumping, filling and weighing equipment. We manufacture high quality mild and stainless steel handling systems that are built for minimal maintenance and maximum performance; from single machines to custom built turnkey installations. The complete onion handling solution - designed with you in mind.

R & H Machine

115 Roedel Ave. Caldwell, ID 83605 (800) 321-6568 rh@rhmachine.com www.rhmachine.com

Long-wearing chrome alloy

Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Annual Conference and Trade Show NOVEMBER 17-18, 2021 Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, WA

Kerian

SPEED SIZER

“A more gentle way to size your onions quickly and accurately.”

Proven for use in: Whites, Reds, Golds, Browns, Spanish, Pearl Onions & More Onion Sizing Video Now Available:

www.kerian.com

GENTLE: Separates without damaging onions ACCURATE: Precisely grades onions of all shapes and varieties FAST: Thirteen standard models custom-designed to meet your needs sort from 1000 lb/hr to 80,000 lb/hr

SIMPLE: Effective but simple design provides a rugged, low cost, low maintenance machine at a high value to our customers. It can even be used in the field!

KERIAN MACHINES INC. 1709 Hwy 81 S, PO Box 311, Grafton, ND USA 58237

701-352-0480 • sales@kerian.com Fax 701-352-3776

Expect More Than Great Seed

OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide EQUIPMENT TOPPERS/TAILERS Eqraft

Proprietary high-speed blade toppers and topping solutions for production in excess of 50 ton/hr with and without walk-in enclosure

Lee Shuknecht & Sons 4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com

Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

WINDROWERS Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

Univerco (1978) Inc 713 RTE 219 Napierville, QC Canada J0J 1L0 (450) 245-7152 www.univerco.com

MISCELLANEOUS AUCTIONEERS Pirrung Auctioneers, Inc. P.O. Box 607 Wayland, NY 14572 (585) 728-2520 www.pirrunginc.com

CONSULTING LABS Stukenholtz Laboratory Inc.

2924 Addison Avenue, E. P.O. Box 353, Twin Falls, ID 83303-0353 (208) 734-3050 or (800) 759-3050 www.stukenholtz.com

IRRIGATION Clearwater Supply

Columbia Basin 1086 South 1st Ave., Othello, WA 99344 (509) 488-5793 Treasure Valley 2232 SW 4th Ave., Ontario, OR 97914 (541) 889-0007

Precision Ag Drip Irrigation Design and Service Featuring the special commodities: onions, asparagus, blueberries, corn, hops, lavender, melons, mint, nurseries, peppers, shallots, squash, and vines

Agricultural consulting and testing

Disinfecting Services, LLC 1265 Siddoway Drive Rexburg, ID 83440 (208) 356-5332 www.disinfectingservices.net

Flo Pro and Power Flush irrigation line cleaners

Onion World • November 2021

Rivulis Irrigation Inc. 7545 Carroll Road San Diego, CA 92121 www.rivulis.com Micro irrigation solutions

Skone Irrigation & Supply

2051 W. 1st, Warden, WA 98857 (509) 349-7364 Accurate Sprinkler Packages

POLLINATION COVERS Redwood Empire Awning Co. 3547 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 588-9900 mike@redwoodempireawning.com www.redwoodempireawning.com

Seed cage covers & frames, pollination cages and frames

PAR T S BELTING/CHAIN Lee Shuknecht & Sons

4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com

Noffsinger

500 6th Ave., P.O. Box 1150 Greeley, CO 80632 (970) 352-0463 or (800) 525-8922 Menahga, MN: (218) 564-5149 Filer, ID: (208) 326-4306 www.noffsingermfg.com

Top Air, Inc.

101 N. Roswell Blvd. Parma, ID 83660 (208) 722-6936 info@topairinc.com www.topair.ag

Description: Available in both 30# and 50# in all colors. 2000/bags per roll. Stock Color: Red Other colors available: Orange, White, Blue, Purple, Tan, Green, etc...

PINCH ROLLS Lee Shuknecht & Sons 4458 Ford Road Elba, NY 14058 (585) 757-6628 mail@shuknecht.com www.shuknecht.com

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115 Roedel Ave. Caldwell, ID 83605 (800) 321-6568 rh@rhmachine.com www.rhmachine.com

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2022 Buyers’ Guide SEED ONION SEED DP Seeds LLC American Takii, Inc.

301 Natividad Road Salinas, CA 93906 (831) 443-4901 www.takii.com Sales Administration: Jerry Vosti (831) 214-9122 - jvosti@takii.com East Coast / Canada: Mitchell Young (603) 393-3488 - myoung@takii.com Pacific NW & Central CA: Trace Pafford (559) 326-3545 - tpafford@takii.com AZ / TX: Jose Solorzano (928) 446-2024 - jsolorzano@takii.com

Bunching, short day, intermediate, long day and overwintering onion seed

BASF Vegetable Seeds

Sales Specialists Travis Whitney (509) 591-2948 Travis.whitney@vegetableseeds.basf.com Columbia Basin WA, Western OR, & CO Sarah Beaver (208) 550-5565 Sarah.beaver@vegetableseeds.basf.com Oregon & Idaho Brett Ross (208) 504-9154 Brett.ross@vegetableseeds.basf.com Oregon, Idaho & Utah Grant Aitken (209) 712-3665 Grant.aitken@vegetableseeds.basf.com California & Nevada Dealers Stokes Seeds Scott Rush (239) 405-2591 srush@stokeseeds.com Georgia, Vidalia TS&L Seeds Norman Linkenhoger (956) 578-4505 normanl@tslseed.com Texas, New Mexico Product Development Michael Straugh (208) 249-5942 Michael.straugh@vegetableseeds.basf.com Product Specialist NAFTA region Main Office BASF Vegetable Seeds 1200 Anderson Corner Road Parma, Idaho 83660 (208) 674-4000 www.nunhemsusa.com

Onion World • November 2021

Bejo Seeds, Inc.

1972 Silver Spur Place Oceano, CA 93445 (805) 473-2199 www.bejoseeds.com

Bunching, intermediate, long day, and short day for both conventional and organic operations

Seedway

Offices in: Nampa, ID - Headquarters (208) 442-5251 Lancaster & San Joaquin Valleys (661) 397-5717 Desert Southwest (760) 398-2729 Colorado & New Mexico (970) 396-9728 Idaho, East Oregon, Utah & Nevada (208) 890-4549 Washington & Western Oregon (509) 551-4060 Skagit Valley, Washington (360) 941-7503 Georgia, Florida & the Carolinas (912) 585-8934 Rio Grande Valley & West Texas (956) 618-5574 Winter Garden Texas (830) 278-5850 Celaya Gto. (461) 117-3878 Colima, Col. (461) 104-0134 Zona Norte de Mexico y Bajio (461) 609-2674 Chihuahua (461) 171-9401 Tamaulipas (461) 134-2421 Irapuato, Gto. (461) 546-5792 “Bunching, long day, short day.”

Crookham Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 520, Caldwell ID 83606-0520 (208) 459-7451 ccoinfo@crookham.com www.crookham.com West Coast and International Representative: Lyndon Johnson (208) 369-3390 lyndonj@crookham.com Midwest Representative: Pieter Droegkamp (262) 202-4019 - pieterd@crookham.com East Coast Representative: Joe Rucker (208) 369-1165 - joer@crookham.com

8269 E. Highway 95 Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 341-8494 info@dpseeds.com www.dpseeds.com

Bunching, short day, intermediate, long day and overwintering seed

Enza Zaden USA, Inc.

7 Harris Place Salinas, CA 93901 (855) 800-ENZA (3692) customer.service@enzazaden.com www.enzazaden.us From Seed to Solution

Gowan Seed

Brian Haddon (971) 282-2884 - Western OR & WA Steve Graton (509) 531-7254 - Columbia Basin Wade Schwark (209) 607-2870 - Treasure Valley & Utah Curtis Mokler (509) 820-8489 - Columbia Basin Casey Crookham (208) 841-9702 - Treasure Valley Larry Chambers (435) 230-4667 - Utah Larry Duell (970) 397-8566 - Colorado Norm Haak (701) 710-0099 - North Dakota David Johnson (760) 550-4409 - Imperial Valley Christophe Veron (956) 802-3478 - Texas & Tamaulipas Russ Brown (559) 799-0799 - San Joaquín Valley Terence Wojewoda (559) 280-5665 - San Joaquín Valley Tom Boschee (209) 607-8517 - Stockton Greg Patti (575) 202-2250 - New Mexico Jimmy Graton (805) 305-5447 - Product Development

SEED ONION SEED (CONT.)

SEED CAGES Redwood Empire Awning Co.

Hazera Seeds

3155 S.W. 10th St. Suite L Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (954) 429-9445 info@hazera.us.com www.hazera.us.com West Coast Sales Manager Barry Younkin (559) 217-9417 East Coast Sales Manager Michael McDaniel (229) 585-0699 Product Manager Root and Bulb Ben de Nijs (863) 303-2974

3547 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 588-9900 mike@redwoodempireawning.com www.redwoodempireawning.com

Seed cage covers & frames, pollination cages & frames

SEED TREATMENTS

Syngenta

www.syngenta-us.com/seed-treatment/ farmore-fi500-onion

FarMore® FI500 onion fungicide/insecticide seed treatment technology offers onion growers the ultimate in early-season disease and pest protection through three seed-delivered fungicides and two seed-delivered insecticides. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. FarMore Technology is an on-seed application of separately registered seed protection products and proprietary application technologies

Germains Seed Technology Sakata Seed America, Inc.

18095 Serene Drive, P.O. Box 880 Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (408) 778-7758 www.sakatavegetables.com Onion Product Manager/ Senior Area Sales Manager: Mike Hansen (209) 483-8770 mhansen@sakata.com Onion Assistant Product Manager: Kevin Townsend (956) 249-5705 ktownsend@sakata.com

All seeds – short day, intermediate, late intermediate, Spanish, long day, white, yellow and red varieties

Seminis

800 North Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63167 (866) 334-1056 www.onionexperience.com

8333 Swanston Lane Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 848-8120 nasales@germains.com www.germains.com

ORGANIC SEED TREATMENTS

Germains Seed Technology Seed Dynamics, Inc.

1081-B Harkins Road P.O. Box 6069, Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 424-1177 www.seeddynamics.com

Syngenta

www.syngenta-us.com/seed-treatment/ farmore-f300

FarMore® F300 onion fungicide seed treatment technology protects onion crops against a broad spectrum of seed and seedling diseases.

8333 Swanston Lane Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 848-8120 nasales@germains.com www.germains.com

Seed Dynamics, Inc. 1081-B Harkins Road P.O. Box 6069 Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 424-1177 www.seeddynamics.com

Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. FarMore Technology is an on-seed application of separately registered seed protection products and proprietary application technologies

Stokes Seeds, Inc.

13031 Reflections Drive Holland, MI 49424 (800) 962-4999 customerservice.us@stokeseeds.com www.stokeseeds.com OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide SEED SEED COATING/ PELLETING

SEED FILMS/ SEED PRIMING Germains Seed Technology

Seedway

8333 Swanston Lane Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 848-8120 nasales@germains.com www.germains.com

Seed Dynamics, Inc.

1081-B Harkins Road P.O. Box 6069, Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 424-1177 www.seeddynamics.com

1081-B Harkins Road P.O. Box 6069 Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 424-1177 www.seeddynamics.com

Skagit Seed Services, Inc. Skagit Seed Services, Inc. 17297 Hulbert Road Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 466-3191 www.skagitseedservices.com

17297 Hulbert Road Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 466-3191 www.skagitseedservices.com

Seed coatings and treatments formulated for the needs of onion growers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

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Onion World • November 2021

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Success Starts at the Source Sakata sets the industry standard for quality, reliability and service. Our comprehensive onion portfolio is rigorously bred and trialed to take your investment further. With Sakata varieties, you can expect high yields with ease of growing and a high percentage of single centers. What’s more, you can rely on Sakata onions for pink root tolerance, good firmness, extra layers of vibrant skin and strong plants. To order, contact your preferred supplier.

OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide SHIPPERS

Paradigm Fresh Columbia Basin Onion, LLC P.O. Box 1191 78727 Westland Road Hermiston, OR 97838 (541) 667-9472 www.columbiabasinonion.com

19974 County Road S Fort Morgan, CO 80701 (720) 492-1020 www.paradigmfresh.com

Potandon Produce LLC

N570 6th Court Endeavor, WI 53930 Main Office (608) 981-2488 Onion Sales Doug Bulgrin Cell (608) 697-6775 doug@gumzfarmswi.com Potato Sales Tom Bulgrin Cell (608) 697-2137 tom@gumzfarmswi.com www.gumzfarmswi.com

Gumz Farms is a 4th Generation farm that is proud to offer Wisconsin grown yellow and red onions and red and yellow potatoes. We are your Midwest connection and pack produce year round.

1210 Pier View Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 524-1900 www.potandon.com

Exclusive marketer of Green Giant fresh potatoes and onions.

Shuman Farms

278 Hwy 23 South Reidsville, GA 30453 (912) 557-4477 marketing@shumanfarmsga.com www.shumanfarmsga.com

Industry-leading, year-round grower and shipper of premium sweet onions.

The Onion House, LLC Harris Fresh Inc.

26062 Fresno-Coalinga Road Coalinga, CA 93210 (559) 884-2236 Fax (559) 884-2219 www.harrisfresh.com

Onion World • November 2021

597 Grove Road Ontario, Oregon 97914

Packing Shed 135 Railroad St. Weiser, Idaho 83672 Phone: (208) 414-3479 Fax: (208) 414-3900

Conventional & Organic Onions

Gumz Farms

Treasure Valley Farms

P.O. Box 170 Weslaco, TX 78599 (956) 973-0552 www.theonionhouse.net Dee Eddy Cell: (830) 591-9974 Don Ed Holmes Cell: (956) 330-2696

Packing Shed Manager Shelly Frisby Cell (541) 212-0561 sfrisby@agrinw.com Director of Marketing Brian Debban Cell (208) 412-7800 bdebban@agrinw.com

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NOA 2021 Annual Convention December 1 - 4 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Take some well deserved “downtime” mixed with a bit of work. Join the NOA and other members to discuss current/future business in beautiful San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico on the Atlantic Coast. • Wide beach fronts, nightclubs, bars and casinos • Tour cobblestoned Old San Juan’s Spanish colonial buildings and 16th century landmarks • NOA golf event • Featured speakers on food safety and protocols • Annual awards banquet • Annual raffle with $4500 to winner

For more info or to register: www.onions-usa.org/members/conventions Or call Courtney (970) 353-5895 OnionWorld.net

2022 Buyers’ Guide STORAGE BINS

DEHUMIDIFYING EQUIPMENT

Ernst Mfg.

P.O. Box 70155 Bakersfield, CA 93387 (661) 831-7553 ernstmfg@aol.com

Disinfecting Services, LLC

IPL Macro

Harvest 6.0 and Bio Ultra to clean and disinfect storage buildings and equipment

Sizers, Sorters, Conveyors, Bin Dumpers

2250 Huntington Drive Fairfield, CA 94533 (509) 952-3896 jengland@macroplastics.com www.iplmacro.com Plastic, reusable bins

Volm Companies

CHEMICALS FOR STORAGE

Agri-Stor Companies (208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Crop Protection Products and Services Gellert Climate Controls and Equipment

Onion World • November 2021

1265 Siddoway Drive Rexburg, ID 83440 (208) 356-5332 www.disinfectingservices.net

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st Street Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

REFRIGERATION & COOLING Agri-Stor Companies

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 www.groupag.com Vaapor sanitizing fog

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

CONSTRUCTION Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st Street Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

Onion Storage Structure Kits

(208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Crop Protection Products and Services Gellert Climate Controls and Equipment

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 www.groupag.com

Post harvest specialists

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st Street Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

STORAGE TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY MONITORING

Agri-Stor Companies (208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Crop Protection Products and Services Gellert Climate Controls and Equipment

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 www.groupag.com

Post harvest specialists

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st Street Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com

VENTILATION/ HUMIDIFICATION Agri-Stor Companies (208) 733-7000 www.agri-stor.com

Crop Protection Products and Services Gellert Climate Controls and Equipment

Group Ag

(208) 356-7800 www.groupag.com

Post harvest specialists

Industrial Ventilation, Inc. 723 E. Karcher Road Nampa, ID 83687 (208) 463-6305 www.ivi-air.com

Suberizer, Inc.

14222 NE 21st Street Bellevue, WA 98007 (425) 747-8900 www.suberizer.com OnionWorld.net

Crookham Drops 2 for Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

ollowing up on the success of Caldwell and Caliber introduced in 2019 and Trident last year, Crookham Company has released two new onion seed varieties that will be available to growers for the 2022 season. Always innovating, the Idaho onion breeder gave a sneak peek of these two cultivars as numbered lines at the Crookham Summer Onion Reveal last year. The newly named Epic (14-733) and Defender (11-250) returned to this year’s event as the latest additions to Crookham’s long-day yellow lineup.

Epic

Epic is a new 115- to 118-day yellow onion. The timing of this onion is perfect for the growing areas in Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon. Casey Crookham, sales representative for Gowan Seed Company, called it the “Goldilocks variety” – not too early, not too late, but “just right.” Epic has a rich bronze-colored scale that is ideal for retail use, but it can also be used for processing. Epic can be watered with overhead irrigation and produces highly single-centered bulbs. Epic’s secret sauce is a very trim neck with upright foliage that stands up well to overhead irrigation. Lyndon Johnson, Crookham sales representative, said Epic will be ideal not only for the Columbia Basin where overhead pivots are commonly used, but also in wet areas like Michigan and New York. “This will be the latest maturing variety in New York,” Johnson said. The varietal boasts a strong root system that is resistant to both pink root and Fusarium and can be stored up to eight months. Epic will be available exclusively through Gowan Seed Company. Rumor has it Jimi Hendrix would have approved of this variety.

Onion World • November 2021

Crookham sales reps Rob Gobleck (left) and Lyndon Johnson attend the Crookham Summer Onion Reveal in Wilder, Idaho. George Crookham (center) visits with customers.

'22 Defender

New yellow, long-day Defender matures in 118 to 120 days and produces bulbs ranging in size from jumbo to super colossal. Defender has impressive resistance to pink root, Fusarium and bolting. It features long-term storability up to eight months, rich bronze-colored scales, a very high single-center percentage and vigorous roots. Those roots help the variety “stand up to the heat and conditions in the Treasure Valley and Columbia Basin under drip irrigation,” Johnson said. Defender is a versatile onion for use in any end market and will yield well. As in previous years, the Crookham Summer Onion Reveal in late August also featured some varieties that might make it to the commercial market after all testing is done. An early maturing, yellow long-day that tolerates overhead irrigation would be a nice complement to Epic, and if all goes well, growers will see that in 2023.

New variety Defender stores well and has rich bronze scales. Epic has been bred to do well under overhead irrigation.

Crookham’s Tera Manzanares (left) and Ryan Johnson answer grower questions at the Crookham Summer Onion Reveal. Wilder, Idaho produces tons of onions as well as hops for brewers.

OnionWorld.net

Utah Onion Association Summer Tour Dan Drost (front) organizes a summer field day and winter meeting in Utah every year.

Utah State Heads to the Shed and On to Outside Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

rom a new onion shed to new research trials, Utah State University (USU) Extension showcased it at the Utah Onion Association Summer Tour on Aug. 10. Organized by Dan Drost, vegetable specialist at USU, the tour gave attendees a chance to see Extension trials and hear from researchers. The day started with a tour of the new onion shed at Bennett Farms in West Weber, Utah, owned by Bennett Gibson. Gibson also runs a produce stand at the new facility that sells to locals. The farm grows 350 acres of onions, along with alfalfa, tomatoes, watermelon and sweet corn. The new shed will eventually have packing equipment and temperature and humidity control equipment from Industrial Ventilation. From there, attendees went to the field to view onions and hear research conclusions.

Bulb Uniformity

Drost is working with USU undergraduate Crystal Fowler on a project

Onion World • November 2021

comparing primed onion seed versus raw onion seed to see how seedling emergence variability impacts plant growth and development and eventually bulb size uniformity. Drost and Fowler found that primed seeds emerged over a 22-day window and the raw seeds over a 20-day window. Many factors can affect emergence including seed, seed size, soil conditions, moisture and temperature. Their goal is to identify where variability starts so that they can make recommendations on how to improve uniformity.

Drip Irrigation

Niel Allen, irrigation specialist at USU, has been studying drip irrigation and its effect on yield. Due to friction loss in the tube, a pressure difference as small as 2 to 3 psi on a drip system could result in a 20 percent difference in water from the high to the low spots in a field. “Calculate how much water you need and then add at least 10 percent,” he suggested. “With drip, half of your field is

going to be under irrigated and half will be over irrigated.” To help monitor this difference, Allen recommends a free app that is available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store. OneSoil (www.onesoil.ai) uses satellite data to provide Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps of growers’ fields. The maps show irrigation problem spots and can also be used to make decisions on fertilization and weed control. Updated every three to five days, the app also allows users to make notes and manually change field borders. Niel Allen gives drip irrigation tips, suggesting growers add 10 percent more water than what they think they need and to use the OneSoil app to monitor growth.

From left, Karl Oelke, Bennett Gibson and Brigham Henderson with Bennett Farms stand in front of their new onion shed in West Weber, Utah.

Suburban sprawl affects many areas of the country, and this onion field in northern Utah is no exception.

Seed Spacing

Drost has also been working on an onion density trial for the last three years, with the goal to develop seed spacing recommendations for Utah. Currently, growers in Utah are using 3.5- to 4-inch spacing, but Drost is testing down to 2 inches. If all goes well, by the annual Utah Onion Meeting in February, Drost will have spacing recommendations for Utah producers looking to sell into specific size markets.

Claudia Nischwitz with Utah State University reminds attendees at the Utah Onion Association Summer Tour to remove cull and volunteer onions to help manage onion and seedcorn maggots.

OnionWorld.net

Malheur Experiment Station Onion Variety Day

Oppressive Heat

Hammers Treasure Valley Yields Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

early everyone has seen the “shell game,” whether in person or portrayed on film. Typically run by grifters and swindlers, the game uses three cups with a walnut shell under one of the cups. The operator then shuffles the cups around, and the player has to guess which cup has the shell. Guess the right cup and the player wins. At any given onion field day, it can be difficult to distinguish one variety from another. If you took three different reds, juggled them behind your back in a modified version of the shell game, then asked anyone to name which of the three you held out in your hand, few would be able to identify the variety. Only the most discerning eye would have better than a 33 percent chance of naming the onion and winning the game. But that similarity grew more disparate this year at the Oregon State University (OSU) variety trial. Mother Nature cranked up her blast furnace this summer A combination of excessive heat and day length strangled some of the varieties grown in the trial.

The months of June and July were the hottest ever recorded by the National Weather Service at the Boise airport, about a one-hour drive from the Malheur Experiment Station. Chart by Erik Feibert, OSU

Monthly average air temperature (0F) for 2021 and 1943-2021 average at the Malheur Experiment Station. Numbers in bold are record since 1943. Average High Temp

Average Low Temp

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

2021

66.7

73.5

90.6

98.7

1943-2021 Average

64.3

73.5

81.8

91.9

2021

35.2

58.9

65.4

1943-2021 Average

37.3

45.2

52.1

58.3

Onion World • November 2021

to record levels. Some onions at the trial did not size up, and some commercial producers will see yields drop as much as 30 to 40 percent in the Treasure Valley. Erik Feibert, OSU senior faculty research assistant, ran this year’s onion trials at the Malheur Experiment Station in Ontario, Oregon. He said due to a combination of heat and day length, bulbing and maturation started earlier this year. Higher soil temperatures led to stressed onions, more pink root and big differences in sizes of the tested varieties. Record average high temperatures pounded the area this summer. The average low temperatures were also higher than normal, meaning it did not cool down as much at night. Temperatures in June were the highest since 1961. For the month of July, you have to go all the way back to 1943 to find a summer as miserable as the one the Treasure Valley had this year. In a trial, all varieties receive the same water and inputs, but in a commercial field, adjustments are made based on what the crop needs. Just because a variety didn’t size up in the trial doesn’t necessarily mean it didn’t perform on the farm. Even so, Tiffany Cruickshank with Snake River Produce in Nyssa, Oregon, said they will have “lower yields across the board.” She said a windy and dry spring combined with extreme temperatures kept the tops from developing, and those smaller tops could not protect the onions from the heat. “Tops dropped a week to two weeks ahead of a normal year, leading to some varieties in the test being undersized,” Feibert said. Troy Seward with Golden West Produce in Parma, Idaho, was still harvesting at press time and did not know the overall impact the heat had, but he said there will be a “definite decrease in yields.” He went on to say that yield suffered in varieties that have less of a canopy and he expects that the overall Treasure Valley crop yield will be down significantly. Tops were also smaller in the Columbia Basin of Washington. Kerrick Bauman with L&L Ag Production in Othello, Washington, drove six hours south to see the Malheur trial. He said the Basin also had record heat, but it did cool off at night more than the Treasure Valley. “The onions are there, the quality’s good generally, but there’s just a smaller profile,” Bauman said. While Feibert could not do anything about the extreme temperatures, he did make a change in the trial this year to

Erik Feibert with OSU answers questions at the Malheur Experiment Station in Ontario, Ore.

Kerrick Bauman (left) visits with OSU’s Stuart Reitz at the OSU Onion Variety Day.

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Malheur Experiment Station Onion Variety Day

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Alicia Rivera with OSU chops a red onion to count single-centers.

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Shaina Bronstein with Enza Zaden checks out the company’s new Tannat variety in the trial.

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Onion World • November 2021

Visitors at the Malheur Experiment Station Onion Variety Day on Aug. 25 enjoy a much cooler day than any in June or July.

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Single-center evaluations are part of OSU varietal testing.

better match what growers are doing. Growers are looking for jumbos because there is a smaller market for colossal and super colossal onions. To mirror this, Feibert increased the trial’s plant population from 120,000 to 137,000 plants per acre. Ironically, prices are currently up on larger onions because there are so few of them due to the tough growing conditions this summer. On Sept. 22, 50-pound sacks of yellow super colossals were selling between $18 and $20, double what they were in 2020. Given the historic heat in 2021, hopefully next year won’t be as sweltering or daunting for growers in western Idaho and eastern Oregon. Unless there is another blast furnace of a summer, onions will look more similar at trials, and the modified shell game will be harder to win.

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OnionWorld.net

With US Secretary of Ag

fter the better part of a year on the job, United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack participated in a virtual town hall-style meeting hosted by Farm Journal in early September. We logged on to hear Sec. Vilsack voice his views on several hot topic issues in the agriculture industry, ranging from COVID to climate.

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Setting the Standard for Wear! 36

Onion World • November 2021

Q: What are the priorities in Washington D.C.? A: There are two main focuses here at USDA. One obviously is to continue to do what we can to get on the other side of the pandemic and to essentially mitigate the consequences of that situation on the food supply chain and on farmers, ranchers and producers. The other aspect we’re focusing on is, as the president likes to say, building back better. The question is how do we build back better a farming opportunity that actually creates more profit for more farmers. I think it boils down to more, new and better markets. [We’re] looking at focusing on continuing to find ways in which we can improve and expand on exports, making sure we follow through on the USMCA, making sure our friends in Canada follow up on their responsibilities, dealing with some of the issues down in Mexico – trying to open up new markets for potato growers, for example – and working in Southeast Asia to create new market opportunities.

Q: Out West, there’s drought and wildfire. What can be done to change that situation? A: It’s a combination of a number of factors, some of which we have control over and some of which we don’t. Clearly, climate has an impact and an effect. The heatwave that we’ve seen in the West obviously creates a drought. The drought creates drier conditions in these forests, so a spark really can ignite a pretty significant fire. It is also a fact that over the course of many, many, many years, we have attempted to enforce management on the cheap. We have invested some money but not enough money in terms of hazardous fuel reduction, in terms of getting that wood out of the forest so that when there is a fire, it is not as catastrophic as what we are experiencing. That’s why it’s so vital and so necessary for Congress to do its job on the bipartisan infrastructure and jobs bill and the reconciliation bill because both of those bills contain significant investments that will accelerate dramatically our ability to remove that hazardous fuel and to do better forest management. And with that, we should see reduced catastrophic fire risk.

But it’s going to take time. We didn’t get into this mess overnight. We’re not going to get out of it overnight. In the meantime, we need to look for ways in which we can provide help and assistance to producers who are negatively impacted by the fires and negatively impacted by drought.

Q: With the federal court tossing out the Trump-era rule defining Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), where do we see this conversation going? A: First of all, there’s a mix and match of various rules that are currently in place. Some states are following the Trump rule, and some states are following the Obama rule. And the reality is that the EPA has basically said both rules have some challenges. So, essentially what EPA is doing, as I understand it, is basically starting from scratch, and they’re starting the right way. They’re starting by going out and listening to essentially create an understanding, a relationship and communication between producers so everybody knows what’s on the table. I think there’s a consensus that we want clean water. I think there’s a consensus that we need to do what’s necessary. But I also believe that farmers can tell the EPA what’s practical, what’s doable and what’s not. And to the extent that we can then have that conversation, EPA can then inform us and we can be informed at USDA about the work that we can do through our conservation programs and some of the other tools we have to make it easier for farmers to do whatever ultimately is decided has to be done. So I think it’s about fostering communication and cooperative conversation.

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Q: Closing thoughts? A: This USDA is trying to thoughtfully approach many of the problems and challenges facing American agriculture and is absolutely committed to trying to create more, new and better market opportunities for producers, understanding that in doing so, we create more profit for more farmers, which at the end of the day is best for American agriculture and best for the country. That’s what we get up every day trying to do. I’m optimistic about the future. I’m optimistic about the opportunity for American agriculture to really show the way on climate, conservation and sustainability. And I think in doing so, there are new market opportunities we can help create at USDA.

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Michigan Onion Variety Trial

Michigan Tradition Photos courtesy Greg Bird, Michigan Onion Committee

n onion variety trial in Michigan was a win-win this year, demonstrating that there are many good onion varieties available to growers and identifying several new cultivars with slightly earlier maturity than standard varieties. Growers, researchers, seed company representatives and others in the industry had a chance to check out the variety trial at V&W Farms near Byron Center, Michigan, on Aug. 24. Michigan’s on-farm onion variety trials have been taking place for more than 15 years to evaluate new onion varieties for their suitability for growing in Michigan. Michigan growers are primarily interested in flavorful yellow cooking onions that mature in mid to late August. However, some are also interested in early-maturing varieties that can be harvested and marketed in early August. Seed companies are encouraged to submit new long-day onion varieties for the trial. These new varieties are evaluated against some of the established onion varieties. Through the years, the trial has grown to include eight seed Bulbs of one of three red varieties included in the trial are ready for evaluation.

Onion World • November 2021

Darryl Warncke, Michigan State University professor emeritus, explains how he conducts the variety trial from start to finish. Sushila Chaudhari, a Michigan State University weed scientist, discusses her research on the weed white campion.

companies: American Takii, Bejo/ Seedway, Clifton Seed Company, Crookham Company, Enza Zaden/Vitalis, Hazera, Rispens Seeds and Solar Seed. This year, these companies tested 24 yellow varieties and three red varieties in the trial site’s muck soil. Onions in the trial grew quite well after going through some early freezes that thinned the stands, according to Darryl Warncke, coordinator of the Michigan Onion Variety Trial. In addition, disease pressure – primarily Stemphylium –

A display of bulbs features one of the 24 yellow varieties included in the trial.

Greg Yielding, executive vice president of the National Onion Association (NOA), expresses the need for everyone to be involved in the NOA in order to have a strong voice speaking on behalf of the industry.

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Michigan Onion Variety Trial

The 2021 Michigan Onion Variety Trial included 27 varieties from eight seed companies.

and thrips pressure were kept in check through the use of approved spray programs. Around the state, bulb size and quality varied depending on weather conditions. Some locations experienced heavy rain, which reduced plant health, growth and, ultimately, size. Samples of the onion bulbs of each variety in the trial were placed in storage for evaluation and also will be displayed at the Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo in December.

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Nov. 17-18 Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, Wash. Sheri Nolan, (509) 585-5460 or www.pnva.org

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National Onion Association Annual Convention Puerto Rico www.onions-usa.org

Dec. 7-9 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO DeVos Place Conference Center Grand Rapids, Mich. www.glexpo.com

Jan. 11-13 Pacific North West

New Mexico

Brian Haddon, Area Manager (971) 282-2884

Greg Patti, Sales Rep. (575) 202-2250

San Joaquin Valley

Texas

Russ Brown, Area Manager (559) 799-0799

Clegg Smith, Area Manager (956) 340-0022

Imperial Valley & Yuma AZ

Florida, Georgia & the Carolinas

Feb. 1

831-679-1900

Idaho-Malheur County Onion Growers’ Association Conference Four Rivers Cultural Center Ontario, Ore. Contact Cindy Pusey, (208) 888-0988 or cindy@amgidaho.com

P.O. Box 190 • Chualar, CA 93925 25445 Chualar River Road • Chualar, CA 93925

Editor’s note: Information was correct at presstime. Please contact event organizers to check for possible changes.

Scott Richards, Area Manager (928) 580-2484

Derek Levy, Sales Rep (912) 433-4752

www.gowanseed.com 40

Empire State Producers Expo The Oncenter Syracuse, N.Y. www.nysvga.org

Onion World • November 2021

Onion Disease Quiz

This material is provided courtesy of: Bhabesh Dutta, Associate Professor and Vegetable Disease Specialist, University of Georgia Ron Gitaitis, Professor Emeritus, Phytobacteriologist, University of Georgia

A variety of diseases can affect onions. Being able to recognize the symptoms of various diseases can go a long way in implementing effective management strategies. Below are four photos of diseases of onion, along with some key information about each. Can you identify each disease?

1. Management of this disease favored by cool wet conditions relies on sprays applied using forecast models that are based on sporangia development under favorable conditions of temperature and relative humidity. (Photo courtesy Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org)

2. The common name of this disease caused by the fungus Glomerella cingulate shares its name with a 1996 film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton.

3. This disease is caused by a soil-borne pathogen that can survive in soil for many years as chlamydospores or as a saprophyte on crop residues. The disease generally occurs with warm soil temperatures in fields previously used for onion production. The entire plant may collapse and, if the plant is pulled, it often comes out without any roots attached since they have decayed. (Photo courtesy David B. Langston, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org)

4. This disease caused by an obligate parasite can be quite destructive on foliage, reduce yields and produce distinct diamond-shaped lesions on seed scapes. (Photo courtesy Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org)

SCAN CODE FOR ANSWERS

or go to onionworld.net/nov2021-disease-quiz OnionWorld.net

From the NOA

Under the Microscope

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

ast year’s salmonella outbreak involving red onions may be over, but concerns among the onion industry may have just begun, and it is no time to rest, warns a national produce safety expert. In fact, now that a specific salmonella strain has been linked to onions in the third largest foodborne outbreak since 1986, it may put onions at more of a risk than ever, warned Jennifer McIntyre, senior vice president of food safety for United Fresh Produce Association in Washington, D.C. Though the FDA report was poorly written and failed to identify the exact cause of the outbreak, there is no doubt it was linked to onions, McIntyre said. Now, the industry can fight it, and likely not win, or work to bridge gaps and build relationships to ensure trust. Jennifer McIntyre, senior vice president of food safety for United Fresh Produce Association, and Greg Yielding, National Onion Association (NOA) executive vice president and chief executive, visit during the NOA summer convention July 14 in Nashville, Tenn.

Onion World • November 2021

“There are three vulnerabilities you face as an industry,” McIntyre told participants of the National Onion Association (NOA) summer convention July 14 in Nashville, Tennessee. “Now, onions are on the FDA’s radar. Onions had not been high on the list, and within the spectrum of produce commodities, no one would have thought onions needs to be a top priority (in food safety concerns). Now, this association has been established. You can expect, as an industry, more attention on onions.” “This may result in more questions being asked about your commodity,” she continued. “The FDA may say, ‘We never looked at onions; maybe we should go out and start sampling onions.’ And, seek and ye shall find. … If people start looking and people start finding, it just creates a difficult situation. … CDC had cases a couple times in the past several years in which onions were suspect. The CDC hadn’t shared this before. So the dogma was ‘not onions.’ Now, onions may be more top of mind and may be more likely to be reported.” Given this, it would behoove the industry, McIntyre said, to start working harder to showcase the industry’s best practices. First, she said, the Onion Food Safety Best Practices document needs an update, and it should be taken straight to the FDA to help build bridges and paint the industry in a good light. “The 2010 document doesn’t convey what current industry practice will look like,” she told the group. “I have learned there are nuances, differences between onion production and production of other produce items. You deserve to have that called out and recognized. Whether it’s updating this 2010 document, there would be value in coming together as an industry, talking about practices.” NOA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Greg Yielding said updating that food safety guidance for the industry will be a priority for the NOA’s environmental committee going into 2022. In fact, there will be discussion at NOA’s annual meeting Dec. 1-4 in Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit www.onions-usa.org.

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Onion World November 2021

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Utah State Heads to the Shed and On to Outside