ONION WORLD Voice of the Industry • OnionWorld.net • July/August 2018
The Advocate
Botrytis Basics Automated Agriculture White Rot Tops Agenda in California
Table of Contents Magazines For Maximum Yield
ONION WORLD Volume 34, Number 5
July/August 2018 4
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
The Advocate
Colorado Onion Grower Works in the Spotlight
Publisher / Advertising Manager Dave Alexander dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
US Imports of Fresh Onions, Shallots From Peru
Editor Denise Keller editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
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Automated Agriculture
Director of Operations Brian Feist brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
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Harvest Essentials
18
White Rot Tops Agenda in California
20
Botrytis Basics
8
Trade Trends
Researchers Work on Robotic Weeder EDITORIAL INFORMATION
Buyers' Guide
California Garlic and Onion Board Annual Meeting
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.
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Understand Botrytis Neck Rot to Reduce Risk
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
A research prototype of a weeding robot awaits some finishing touches in the lab. See the story on page 10.
On the Cover Robert “R.T.” Sakata stands near one of the trucks on his Brighton, Colo. farm just after hosting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue for a roundtable discussion on labor issues. See the story on page 4.
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Onion World • July/August 2018
Departments
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In The News New Products Calendar From the NOA
U.S. $24 per year Canada $40 per year Foreign $80 per year Payments may be made by check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. 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 2018. 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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The Advocate
Colorado Onion Grower Works in the Spotlight Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher
Robert Sakata works seven days a week as a farmer, speaker and advocate for the ag industry.
B
righton, Colorado, onion grower Robert Sakata is no stranger to the bright lights. In May, Sakata hosted a grower roundtable at his farm with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and none other than the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture himself, Sonny Perdue. Sakata Farms was selected as part of Perdue’s “Back to Our Roots” tour, and though unexpected, it was not really that much of a surprise considering Sakata’s previous contributions and advocacy work. In 2014, Sakata was selected to be on a small panel that met with Vice President
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Onion World • July/August 2018
Joe Biden, and earlier this year he also hosted top FDA officials for a day. Sakata said that these opportunities came about through networking in the nation’s capital and connections he has made through the years. Nearly every year, he travels to Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf of the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, a group he founded and serves as president. Sakata also serves on the Colorado Onion Association board. One thing is for sure; Sakata is an advocate for the agriculture industry. Sakata says that his interest in the
political side of ag was spawned by his father, Bob. Bob, held in a World War II Japanese internment camp when only 15 years old, went on to build Sakata Farms into one of the largest farms in Colorado. Bob was so successful that the Emperor of Japan wanted to meet him and visited the farm in 1952.
Not So Sweet
Though the Sakata family may be accustomed to the spotlight, one side of their operation dimmed this year. In March, Sakata Farms auctioned off its sweet corn
U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, stopped at Sakata Farms on May 17 as part of his fourth “Back to Our Roots” tour. The tour’s aim was to hear ideas and concerns from local farmers, ranchers, producers, foresters, agriculture students, business owners, community leaders and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees. The stop featured a roundtable discussion of labor issues with growers. The common theme was the lack of local labor and the costs associated with using H-2A workers.
USDA Photos by Lance Cheung.
On a dare, Robert Sakata wears his Denver Broncos horse wig when meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
From left, Robert Sakata,Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall participate in a roundtable conversation with fruit and vegetable growers to discuss labor issues.
Sakata Farms’ Bob Sakata Sr. makes a point to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. At 92 years young, Sakata still comes into the office seven days a week. Sakata’s son, Robert, says of his dad, “If you could capture everything he has in his brain about farming and put it into a computer, it would take a lot of storage space.”
Robert Sakata leads Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall through his packing shed and warehouse. Some of the equipment was designed by his father, Bob Sakata.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue holds a farming themed T-shirt he saw while visiting Sakata Farms’ Robert Sakata and Bob Sakata.
OnionWorld.net
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Sakata Farms processing equipment, marking an end to decades of sweet corn production. The last farm in the area supplying the Denver area with fresh corn, Sakata said it was a melancholy and tough decision to eliminate the crop that his dad started growing in 1944. The main reasons for the decision were a lack of local labor due to a sub-3 percent unemployment rate and the escalating costs of using workers from Florida for harvest. Brighton is only 30 miles from Denver. In 2017, the Greeley area, only 30 miles north of Brighton was ranked third in the U.S. for percentage growth among metropolitan areas. Explosive growth in the area has created a housing shortage. Even people that live in the area 12 months a year have a hard time finding affordable housing. Sakata was housing his seasonal workers in hotels and paying for their transportation to and from Florida. Overhead on the crop was compounded by refrigeration equipment and maintenance. Sakata also faced depressed prices and a short timeframe to market the crop. Sweet corn had become untenable and was no longer profitable.
The Squeeze
Robert “R.T.” Sakata grows 500 acres of onions and 2,000 acres of field corn and pinto beans 30 miles north of Denver.
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The housing shortage on Colorado’s Front Range has created other challenges for Sakata, too. Housing developments are pressed up against his fields, encroaching closer all the time. Without a buffer zone between fields and houses, aerial application of pesticides became impossible. Not being able to spray for earworms was also a contributing factor in dropping sweet corn from Sakata’s
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rotation, which is now onions, field corn and pinto beans. In addition to shrinking buffer zones, the boom in population to Brighton’s semi-arid desert brings water challenges. Faced with the FDA’s proposal requiring growers to test for E. coli four times a year and meet recreational water standards, Sakata said his main water risk is from what humans are doing. In other parts of the country, livestock and wildlife may affect water quality, but Sakata lives downstream from 2 million people. Some of the water he uses to furrow- and pivot-irrigate comes directly from a new wastewater treatment plant. During the FDA’s visit, Sakata’s main goal was to make the representatives aware that not all farms are the same. Sometimes water is not even available for testing.
Sakata Farms nearly emptied its storage yard after selling off the farm’s sweet corn equipment. Neighboring Wal-Mart has not asked to buy it yet for more parking.
The Long Haul
Despite the challenges of growing amidst urban sprawl, labor shortages, water issues and offers to buy his ground for development, Sakata is not going anywhere. He enjoys farming and the lifestyle. But Sakata admits “growing corn was stressful.” It is a huge commitment in equipment, refrigeration and labor. He is looking forward to spending more time and committing more acres to growing onions this year. Working with Colorado State University, he is trying some early onions for the first time since he doesn’t have to deal with corn. Last year was a good one for Sakata’s onions. Quality was good and they shipped reds, whites and yellows all over the country. Auctioning off the corn processing line has freed up room and will allow Sakata to modernize his onion equipment. “Christopher Columbus brought over our onion grading line, and we are due for an upgrade,” he quips. Pelicans take flight on one of Sakata Farms' irrigation sources.
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Trade Trends US Imports of Fresh Onions, Shallots From Peru
By Mark Wocial, Certified Global Business Professional, Wocial & Associates LLC
P
eru is the second largest supplier, after Mexico, of fresh onions and shallots to the United States. Imports from Peru increased from 95,000 metric tons (MT) in 2013 to 123,000 MT in 2017. In contrast, the value of imports per metric ton dropped in the same period from approximately $430 to $410. In 2017, imports of fresh onions from Peru were valued at $50 million. Imports of fresh onions from Peru start in significant quantities in August and end in February, with peak shipments in October, November and December. Based on the last five years of data, imports of onions from Peru averaged 82,000 MT in August, 164,000 MT in September and over 200,000 MT per month in October,
November and December. Imports started to decline in January (161,000 MT) and February (54,000 MT). Peru also exports onion sets to the U.S. In the past five years, average annual shipments amounted to 410 MT, with significantly higher quantities in 2014 (712 MT) and 2017 (652 MT). Between 2013 and 2017, U.S. imports of onion sets from Peru were valued at approximately $400 per metric ton. Peak months for imports of onion sets were December through March. The U.S. is the biggest export market for fresh onions from Peru and is increasing in its importance. In 2013, the U.S. market accounted for approximately 51 percent of Peruvian exports by volume and 68 percent by value. In 2017, the U.S. market represented approximately 67 percent of Peruvian exports by volume and 77 percent
by value. In contrast, total exports of fresh onions from Peru to all international markets were flat in the past five years. Between 2013 and 2017, Peru exported on average 190,000 MT of onions per year, valued at $66 million or $348 per metric ton. Other important export markets for the Peruvian onion industry are Colombia, Spain and Chile. In 2017, these three countries accounted for 31 percent of Peruvian exports by volume. Peru exported 30,000 MT to Colombia, 18,000 MT to Spain and 10,000 MT to Chile. Author’s note: This information is based on the author’s analysis of the international trade data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division and the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database.
Average monthly U.S. imports of fresh onions from Peru (2013-2017) MT x 1,000 208 212 215 164
161
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Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
U.S. imports of fresh onions from Peru USD x million
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Automated Agriculture Researchers Work on Robotic Weeder Story by Denise Keller, Editor Photos courtesy Manoj Karkee, Washington State University
W
ith labor coming at a high cost and being in short supply, the agriculture industry is looking for new ways to get the job done. Currently, researchers from Washington State University (WSU), University of California-Davis and University of Arizona are collaborating to develop robotic weeding technology. This would help growers reduce manual weeding, which is one of the most labor-intensive operations on many vegetable crop farms. It would also improve sustainability, according to Manoj Karkee, an associate professor with WSU’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems. Karkee expects labor availability to become an even greater challenge in the future due to increasing economic activities in Mexico and other countries,
as well as uncertainties in the immigration system. Automating tasks such as weeding is necessary to minimize labor costs and keep the industry viable in the long term, he says.
Progress
The research team is working on a novel concept of using cameras and other sensors to differentiate crop plants from unwanted plants and weeds. When the robotic machine finds weeds, it will either use mechanical tools to remove the weeds, apply chemicals precisely on the weeds or apply heat to kill the weeds. Depending on the type of cropping system and type of weed, one method might work better than the other. The developers have built the machine at a width of 42 inches and about twice as
Researchers will evaluate this weeding robot prototype in carrot and onion fields later this year.
long, although the width could be adjusted based on specific planting systems. Several units will work together to weed a field in the desired time. The component technologies are working well, according to Karkee. Now the researchers are putting the systems together. So far, they have integrated the camera system and robotic platform. The prototype also has been integrated with the precision chemical application system, which includes eight nozzles. The researchers are continuing to work on integrating the unit with the mechanical weed removal and thermal application tools. A team at University of CaliforniaDavis tested the technology last year. The research team plans to evaluate the robot in Eastern Washington onion and carrot fields later this year.
Challenges
Right now, the camera and image processing systems can distinguish crops from unwanted weeds with about 80 to 90 percent accuracy. “It is not 100 percent accurate yet in terms of differentiating the crop plant and the weed because they’re both of similar color. But we not only look at color; we also look at the shape of the leaf. Often times, the shape of the crop
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Onion World • July/August 2018
leaves is different than the shape of the weed leaves,” Karkee explains, noting that onions’ unique leaf shape will help the system distinguish the crop from many broadleaf weeds. “The sensors have the ability to see a little beyond color. They can look at some of the internal characteristics of the leaves, which might be slightly different.” Achieving accuracy closer to the 100 percent mark may require the use of additional signals. Researchers are discussing the use of small stakes positioned next to seeded crops or the application of a food-grade coloring to transplant crops to help the sensor system distinguish plants from weeds. They are also looking at treating seeds with a compound that will give the resulting plants a unique color signature that can be detected with the camera system. “We don’t want to kill even 5 percent of the plants we want or leave 5 percent of the weeds we don’t want,” Karkee says. “There may be situations when we might be missing some percent of weeds if we don’t use any external signal such as applying coloring.” Depending on the crop and cropping system, the goal may be for the robot to eliminate 95 percent of weeds or better. This might be feasible in transplanted onions, for example. In other situations, it may be more reasonable to use the robot to reduce weeds to 10 percent and finish the job manually. “If we can get this robot to work and reduce manual weeding to 10 to 20 percent of where it is today, I think we can make this work for growers,” Karkee says. “In fact, that works for growers quite well because they want to have a certain number of workers throughout the year. They just don’t want to have a very high demand for certain periods of time like weeding.”
Researchers at Washington State University are collaborating with other universities to develop robotic weeding technology. Pictured, from left, with a research prototype of a weeding robot are Manoj Karkee, associate professor; Kapil Khanal, graduate student; and Xin Zhang, graduate student.
of development, Karkee also plans to complete a comprehensive economic analysis of the technology. Looking ahead, Karkee predicts that within three to five years, companies may have engineering prototypes of this type of robotic weeding technology. Within five to seven years, growers can expect to see robots in the field. Wide adoption depends on external factors including labor availability, labor cost and whether companies offer the technology as a service or a product sale.
“The size of the farm has also always played a role in the potential to adopt new technologies. That will remain. But rather than having a big 400-horsepower machine covering 20 rows at a time, we are considering multiple smaller machines working together. It creates a model that farmers can adapt to their size,” Karkee explains. “I really feel excited and enthusiastic about what I’m doing and where this is going. It’s a real exciting area.”
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Harvest Essentials Buyers’ Guide
Automated Produce Equipment • www.automatedproduceequip.com Upmatic Master Bagger/Baler, Columbia Okura Robotic Palletizer
Automated Produce Equipment recently completed the installation of a second Upmatic Master Bagger/Baler. The reliability and performance of the first unit installed resulted in the installation of a second machine. The Upmatic Master Bagger/Baler, which is in use in onion and potato sheds, allows for the re-allocation or reduction of labor on the end of the line. The addition of a Columbia Okura robotic palletizer is also value added as a labor-saving installation. Robotic palletizers typically have a lower acquisition cost and have fewer moving parts than traditional machines. Other benefits include the elimination of injuries and workers’ compensation claims associated with pallet stacking.
Top Air, Inc. • www.topair-usa.com BTX 8400 Bed Tiller
The Top Air BTX 8400 bed tiller is designed to till seedbeds prepared in the fall for spring planting. This bed tiller utilizes S-tines and independent roller baskets to break up overwinter crust, lightly stir the soil and lightly firm the soil just ahead of the planter. The roller baskets are available with either chopper blades or expanded metal. Slickers are available to maintain wheel tracks or corrugates and the shape of raised beds. The BTX 8400 is designed for eight 40-inch beds, but the tiller can be designed to fit most configurations. It can be mounted on a rigid or stacking bar. This machine can also be custom designed to lay drip tape.
Synthetic Resources Incorporated • www.syntheticresources.com ReflectorNET
ReflectorNET is an elastic pallet wrapping net typically used in the agricultural business for palletizing fresh produce that requires ventilation. ReflectorNET is manufactured with enhanced elasticity to wrap more pallets per roll, which saves money on packaging products, and to allow for stronger pallet containment, which provides peace of mind that loads are securely wrapped. ReflectorNET saves 50 to 60 percent of the cost of strap-andcorners packaging methods. The product offers an aggressive built-in memory that helps maintain width, providing excellent pallet stability with only little overlapping whether used in a wrapping machine or manually. Synthetic Resources Inc. offers ReflectorNET in 20-inch- and 30-inch-wide machine rolls. Standard pallet netting is available in hand and machine rolls.
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Onion World • July/August 2018
Gellert • www.gellert.com Agri-Star Control Panel
Growers can take control of their onion storages with Gellert’s Agri-Star Control Panel. Since 1964, Gellert has been a climate control expert, designing and manufacturing thousands of climate control systems for a wide range of post-harvest products. With all these years of application experience and university-based research, the company has developed its most user-friendly, advanced control panel yet. Features include a full-color, interactive touchscreen, easy-to-understand programming and internet capabilities with an intuitive app. Fully adaptable to growers’ onion storages, the Agri-Star panel can handle everything including curing mode, burners, humidity, refrigeration, airflow, temperature, carbon dioxide levels, heat and lights. When Gellert’s climate control equipment is matched with the Agri-Star panel, growers’ onions are wrapped in the perfect climate, extending their life and quality.
Lee Shuknecht & Sons Inc. • www.shuknecht.com Self-Propelled Harvester
The SP-132 is a self-propelled two-bed harvester that eliminates windrowing while simultaneously direct loading two beds, for a total production width of 132 inches using 47-inch chains. The mechanical harvester provides the highest percentage of topping of all the company’s onion harvesters, harvesting two to three tons per minute. Powered by a standard 190-hp Cummins engine, the operator controls blower speed, primary and rear elevator speeds, cutter bar speed and height, and ground speed. The harvester features a 4-foot high capacity boom and front pick-up elevators with spring assist floats. Options include a moveable 4- or 5-foot dipper, rotating cab, stainless blower housing liners and a 240hp engine. Digital readouts for the blower, primary chain, and ground speed can be included, as well as hydraulic adjustment front elevator gauge wheels. Ground sync primary chain control, a posi-traction fourwheel-drive system, and hydraulic trash chain drive can all be built into the SP-132.
SYMACH • www.symach.nl/en Palletizers
SYMACH palletizers make onion operations more efficient and produce pallets with no product overhang. The machines offer immediate labor savings, prevent product damage, and stack neat, stable pallets every time. SYMACH is now part of Barry-Wehmiller’s companies and continues to deliver products people need every day.
OnionWorld.net
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Harvest Essentials
Greentronics • www.greentronics.com RiteTrace
Greentronics recently added load-by-load field-tostorage tracking to its RiteYield root crop yield monitor product. The new product, called RiteTrace, is designed to automate harvest and storage data recording, providing onion growers with a wide range of reports as well as field and 3D storage maps detailing where each load originated and where it is stored. Maps allow growers to select areas in storages or fields and link them together to understand issues around quality in discussions about crop management or when communicating with buyers and processors. Detailed and summary reports include yields by variety and field, in addition to loads by field, storage and truck. Data points are all date/time stamped, and reports are useful for managing efficiency. Maps and reports work well with GAP compliance. Greentronics offers yield data integration with John Deere GS3 2630 and Trimble FMx and TMx monitors, allowing operators to view yield maps in real time.
Nicholson Machinery • www.nicholson-machinery.com Toppers, Windrowers, Harvesters Nicholson Machinery is excited to introduce its line of machinery for onion harvesting. Leading the way are the company’s field toppers, ranging from 5 to 22 feet wide, to remove tops cleaner than ever before, followed by manned or unmanned single- and multi-bed raisers/ windrowers and harvesters to gently bag, box or bulk load to your requirements, and finally the shed finish topper, all carefully designed to enable growers to supply retailers with quality products.
Univerco • www.univerco.com Two-Row Onion Harvesters
With 30 years of experience in building one-row onion harvesters, Univerco introduces its new tworow onion harvesters. The two-row models are available in both shortday and long-day onion versions. Both units have a similar harvest capacity per day, a steering axle to reduce turning radius on headlands and a system of three cameras so the operator can easily monitor the key functions of the machine. The short-day model has even more options available like a sorting table, brushes under the topper table to keep the rollers clean at all times, and more angle and speed adjustments of the topper table. These improvements were made in an effort to minimize mechanical damage to onions.
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Onion World • July/August 2018
t of cilities w in ce
Harvest Essentials
Eqraft • www.eqraft.com Eqrader Optical Onion Grader
The onion factory of the future must perform as reliably as possible with minimal physical labor. The Eqrader sorts onions at high speed by quality, size, weight, shape and color. The machine was specifically developed for and in cooperation with the onion industry and uses artificial intelligence to categorize onions. The Eqrader cleans onions by advanced extraction units, keeping the machine clean from excessive dust and skins. It uses the dark chamber principle and near infrared for internal inspection of the onion and rot detection. The machine inspects externally from two different positions to determine color, skin condition and size. It weighs onions and deposits them in the assigned exits. Soft cups provide gentle product handling. The Eqrader enables order fulfillment based on niches or volumes due to the known details of each inspected onion. Eqraft’s software, Eqontrol, enhances communication and control throughout the production line and enables a “smart onion factory.”
Coming Next Issue: STORAGE ESSENTIALS
Approximately 3.6 million pounds of onions were in this Champion Produce storage facility when the roof caved in. Photo courtesy Champion Produce
OnionWorld.net/Subscribe
Edp Electro-bagger model AB-2110-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
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In the News
NOA Names New PR Director, Begins Search for New Executive VP
Big changes are happening at the National Onion Association (NOA) as it welcomes a new staff member and prepares for the retirement of another next year. René Hardwick has joined the NOA as its director of public and industry relations. Hardwick replaces Kim Reddin, who accepted a position at Colorado Corn in February. “I know I have some big shoes to fill,” Hardwick said, noting Reddin’s 13 years at the NOA. “I look forward to continuing her efforts and adding a few new layers of social The NOA staff (from left) Sharla Johnston, René Hardwick, Wayne Mininger media to put NOA’s story further out into cyberspace while remembering how we got here.” Hardwick brings a background in journalism, having worked at the Greeley Tribune in Greeley, Colorado, for 23 years. Most recently, she was the managing editor for the company’s niche publications sector, as well as the Tribune’s business editor. Hardwick is pursuing her master’s degree in communications management at the University of Denver. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver. “Her extensive experience in journalism and managing communications, coupled with her business and multi-platform media savvy, are expected to fit right into the association’s public and industry relations goals and needs,” said Wayne Mininger, NOA’s executive vice president. Meanwhile, Mininger has announced his plans to retire in April 2019. The NOA has begun a national search for a new executive vice president. Mininger has been at the helm of the NOA for nearly 33 years.
Onion Magazine ¼ Stokes Seeds Adds ad INSTILL Midwest Sales Rep AD SIZE = 3.562” x Stokes Seeds has hired Tim Clark as sales representative for Wisconsin, Minnesota and northern Illinois. Clark will 4.875” be supplying vegetable seed recommendations and service INSTILL® Bactericide & Fungicide A distinctive, patented formula from S.T. Biologicals, INSTILL improves plant health and increases marketable yields by reducing the impact and severity of bacterial and fungal pathogens.
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to commercial producers throughout this newly organized territory. Clark has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been working in Midwest agriculture for over 10 years including experience in seed sales and crop production.
Equipment Company Opens
Automated Produce Equipment (APE) opened in early April. The company provides produce machinery and packaging solutions primarily to the onion, potato and carrot industries. The company sells complete lines, as well as individual machines from bin tipping to packaging and robotic palletizing at the end of the packing line. APE’s vendors’ machinery is designed to reduce labor, increase efficiency and keep customers competitive in the industry, according to Mike McKnight, company president. McKnight has been providing produce packaging equipment for nearly 10 years. APE is based in Marietta, Georgia.
New Products
Product Prevents Plugs in Low-Flow Lines, Conditions Soil
Low-flow irrigators now have a new option for soil conditioning. Flo-Pro, distributed exclusively by Disinfecting Services, is a single product that keeps low-flow irrigation lines clean and maximizes crop production. Flo-Pro combines a pluggingprevention chemistry with a patent-pending soil conditioner that improves absorption and targets root zones for water and nutrient retention and uptake. Flo-Pro uses fifth-generation amines and phosphonate chemistries to provide the most cost-effective product to remove and prevent plugging in low-volume irrigation systems. Used at low usage rates, Flo-Pro makes water unsuitable for biological hosts. According to the manufacturer, the product changes the nature of the soil in the root zone from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. This allows soil to retain water and nutrients in the critical root zone for optimum plant uptake of water and nutrients. Contact Disinfecting Services at (208) 356-5332.
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Precision Spray System Earns Award
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Hummingbird, a new precision spray system, is receiving recognition for its ability to reduce crop protection chemical use. The system entails a combination of cables and hoses carried in a rail assembly that hangs under an irrigation pivot. With pivot water off, the Hummingbird executes crop protection product application instructions from the user. It can also be equipped with sensors and software that collect data about crop health and nutrient levels. Hummingbird helped Cordoba Technologies, Inc. earn the silver award in the 2018 vector awards, a global competition which recognizes innovative energy chain applications. Visit www.cordobatechnologies.us.
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White Rot Tops Agenda in California Photos courtesy Robert Ehn, California Garlic and Onion Research Board
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he search for methods to manage white rot disease remains a top priority for researchers in California. The disease has now infected 144 fields in the state, representing more than 21,000 acres of prime Central Valley soil where California growers can no longer plant processed onions. The California Garlic and Onion Board has funded more than $1.3 million in research projects since 2005, with $675,000 earmarked for white rot management, according to a report by Kevin Collins, board chairman, during the board’s 10th annual research conference. Board projects have also included work on onion thrips, seed corn and onion maggot, weed control and disease management. Collins noted that the board’s research funding has provided pesticide registrants the data needed to support Section 3 federal, Section 24(c) and Section 18 registrations that are now available for use. Following Collins’ opening remarks, researchers shared updates on their latest projects with the more than 100 growers, processors, and other industry representatives in attendance at the annual meeting, held Feb. 12 in Tulare, California.
White Rot
Rob Wilson with the University of California Intermountain Research and Extension Center reported on his work with fungicides for white rot suppression. Conventional fungicides applied to the soil
This decayed onion bulb, grown in a California research plot last summer, is infected with white rot and covered in an abundance of poppy seed-like sclerotia, which can be spread by tillage equipment and remain viable in the soil for 20 years.
early in the season and before infection suppress white rot, while in-furrow applications at planting with the fungicide concentrated at the onion basal plate provide the best control. He noted that various tebuconazole products and Fontelis (penthiopyrad) continue to be the most effective fungicides. Michael Qian and Jeremiah Dung with Oregon State University gave an update on their search for a biostimulant to manage the white rot pathogen. Because of the difficulty in field evaluations of several organosulfur compounds, Qian has worked on a system to evaluate sclerotial germination in a defined container. This allows evaluation of a much larger group of possible biostimulants that may be
California Garlic and Onion Board annual meeting attendees listen to researchers share updates on their latest projects.
used in a white rot management program. Once the researchers identify possible biostimulant compounds, they can move on to a full field evaluation.
Downy Mildew
During the 2017 season, severe downy mildew infections in onions were observed in research plots, according to Mary Ruth McDonald with the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. She listed several fungicides that provide effective control including Orondis (oxathiapiprolin), Zampro (ametoctradin + dimethomorph), Ridomil (mefenoxam) alternated with Aliette (fosetyl-Al) and Dithane (mancozeb). Evaluation of weather-based models for management of onion downy mildew is currently underway in Alex Putman’s trials in California’s Imperial Valley. Objectives are to adapt all disease models to the same computer program language and to compare the effectiveness of the models as advisory tools for managing downy mildew with fungicides in a field trial.
Neck Rot, Bulb and Stem Nematode
McDonald also reported that moderate to severe disease pressure from onion
Kevin Collins with Borba Farms addresses the audience at the annual meeting, during which he was re-elected to serve as chairman of the California Garlic and Onion Research Advisory Board.
neck rot occurred in 2017. Under heavy pressure, the currently registered products Fontelis and Pristine (boscalid + pyraclostrobin) and a new numbered compound from Syngenta were very effective. In addition, McDonald conducted trials on bulb and stem nematode using a fourhour drench before planting, drench in open furrow immediately after planting and foliar spray in spring after emergence. Velum Prime (fluopyram) was very effective as both a soak and drench.
Maggots
Early season stand loss from onion and seed corn maggots continues to be a problem in the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California, according to Wilson. He noted that seed corn maggot flies are captured in onion fields during normal onion planting between mid-April to mid-May. Onion maggot flies are captured starting in mid-May, and infection can reduce stand by 65 to 95 percent. Onion stands for most seed treatments were statistically similar and higher than the control. Exceptions were Capture LFR in-furrow and Trigard. When compared across insecticides, pelleted seed had slightly higher stand and yield compared to encrusted seed. When grouped across coatings, OI100, FI500 and Sepresto had similar stand and yield. These data provide excellent choices for onion and seed corn maggot control, Wilson said.
The University of Guelph’s Mary Ruth McDonald reports on downy mildew, onion neck rot, and bulb and stem nematodes.
Michael Qian with Oregon State University explains how he’s evaluating potential biostimulants to manage the white rot pathogen.
Irrigation, Fertility
evaluation of plant development, nutrient concentrations in soil and tissue, soil moisture levels over time and production details including fertilizer application programs. Soil fertility levels before and after cropping, concentrations in crops harvested, efficiencies and updated fertilizer requirement guidelines will be generated from these data.
Tom Turini with the University of California Cooperative Extension added to the discussion with a report on irrigation and fertility management. An ongoing long-term research project will provide details regarding nitrogen uptake in processing onions in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Research includes
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Botrytis Basics Understand Botrytis Neck Rot to Reduce Risk Story by Denise Keller, Editor Photos courtesy Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University
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ften, problems that show up in storage are a reflection of what happened in the field. In the case of Botrytis neck rot, understanding the key risk factors for the disease and improving upon practices to reduce the risk can help keep the disease out of your onions. Botrytis neck rot typically is a postharvest storage disease of onion and, in the U.S., is caused primarily by Botrytis aclada and Botrytis allii. Symptoms usually begin at the neck and the top of the bulb, where affected tissues soften, become slightly water-soaked and turn a light brown color. Over time, the decay may move down the bulb if conditions remain favorable for growth of the pathogen. White to gray-brown mycelium and dark brown sclerotia may develop between infected scales. Severe infections can result in losses of more than 60 percent, but losses to this disease typically are very sporadic and commonly less than 5 percent. Botrytis neck rot is different from Botrytis leaf blight, caused by Botrytis squamosa. Botrytis leaf blight is primarily a concern in areas of onion production with high relative humidity and rainfall and is very rarely seen in semi-arid regions of
Botrytis neck rot progresses from the neck into the shoulders of an onion bulb.
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Botrytis spp. can grow on culled onions, with the spores spread by wind. Therefore, cull piles can provide a source of inoculum for infection of onion crops.
onion production in the western U.S., even when overhead irrigation is used.
Risk Factors
Fungi, including Botrytis species that cause neck rot and Aspergillus niger which causes black mold, and various bacteria can all present challenges in storage for onion growers. With any of these organisms, moisture in the neck of the onion is a key factor that initiates the risk for rot. Temperature then determines which organism might become a problem. Botrytis is favored by cool to moderate temperatures. It can grow at temperatures from 50 degrees Fahrenheit up to the mid-80s, growing best in the 60s and 70s.
Onion World • July/August 2018
Aspergillus and bacteria, on the other hand, are favored by higher temperatures. If the weather is cool and necks get wet – from rainfall or irrigation – when they should be drying late in the season, Botrytis is more likely to cause problems. Warmer weather, combined with moisture in the necks, can bring on black mold or bacterial infections. Irrigation methods can also come into play. Overhead-irrigated crops are particularly at higher risk for these bulb-rotting pathogens because moisture accumulates in the neck with each pass of the pivot. Larger necks on more mature crops further increase risk. With the combination of cooler temperatures and moisture, Botrytis spores that land on the foliage or neck of the plant germinate and form a latent infection on healthy tissue. The high-risk period comes as the tops go down close to harvest. When the tissue in the neck begins dying, the plant no longer has actively resistant cells in the neck tissues that can defend against the presence of the pathogens. Latent infections become active as the necks senesce, and if moisture remains in the necks or on the leaves, the infections can move into the top of the bulbs, leading to bulb rot in storage.
Management
“These neck rot organisms – bacteria, Aspergillus and Botrytis – are everywhere. Growers aren’t going to escape the presence of these organisms,” says Lindsey du Toit, a Washington State University vegetable seed pathologist. “So the question is how do you protect the crop from becoming affected?” du Toit says it is critical to understand the risk factors for onion neck rot and other bulb rots, especially in the late part of the growing season, during field curing and
Rotting neck tissue of this red onion bulb shows the early stage formation of Botrytis sclerotia.
going into storage, and to minimize risk during this window of high susceptibility. To shorten the window of susceptibility, growers should avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization and irrigation so that necks dry quickly. Pushing fertility and irrigation late in the season in an effort to increase bulb size increases the risk of latent infections in the neck and leaves becoming active and moving into the bulb. Good coverage with appropriate fungicides late in the season, especially just before the tops start to fall over, should make a significant difference in controlling Botrytis, du Toit says. Fungicides can be applied as a seed treatment, but the most important applications are just prior to, and during, natural senescence of the tops, or immediately after injury to the crop from events such as hailstorms or transplanting. du Toit recommends spraying fungicides that have locally systemic activity and making sure the products are effective against Botrytis. Other management recommendations include starting with pathogen-free seed
or treated seed, maintaining a rotation of at least three years between onion crops, managing onion volunteers and culls, and, most importantly, minimizing crop injury. Undercutting bulbs at the appropriate time so that roots stop taking up moisture from the soil helps hasten field curing, which shortens the duration of the most vulnerable stage for infection of the necks. The later the variety matures, the more critical undercutting becomes as the necks of these varieties tend to be drying during cooler fall conditions, which slows the curing period and increases the window of susceptibility, du Toit adds. Finally, remember that holding healthy, well-cured bulbs in cold, dry storage lessens the risk of neck rot. Field cure only if conditions are dry. If there’s concern about moisture in the neck when bulbs are harvested, consider forced-air curing.
Lessons
“Most of the time, Botrytis neck rot is not a major problem for our growers in the Columbia Basin,” du Toit says, estimating that Botrytis is problematic in the Pacific Northwest about once every five years. “But every now and then, there will be a disaster. And every time this has happened, when I’ve had a conversation with the farm about the circumstances in that particular field that had a disaster, you can always find something that increased the risk dramatically.” This might include specific environmental factors or production practices. A late-season rain, cool fall temperatures, irrigating too late in the season, applying too much nitrogen fertilizer, applying nitrogen fertilizer too late in the season or forgoing a late-season fungicide spray can all raise the risk level to allow the disease to be more severe than usual.
Botrytis sporulation appears as a gray fungal growth on this volunteer onion.
This onion bulb has very severe neck rot. Black sclerotia, dormant resting structures that can survive in the soil for one to two years, have formed.
To illustrate, du Toit offers this example of how changing a production practice can make conditions more favorable for Botrytis neck rot. A grower who usually saw 5 percent neck rot in some of his red onions reported 20 to 30 percent infection one year. It was not a particularly bad year for neck rot in the region environmentally, and he used drip irrigation, which normally is very low risk for neck rot. However, at the end of this particular season, he decided to combine multiple operations into a single task to minimize the number of passes through the field. In one pass, he topped the onions, applied water to loosen the soil and pulled up the irrigation drip tape. “I admire the ingenuity, efficiency and economy of scale, but in doing so, he created the perfect storm,” du Toit says. Topping the onions created wounding. Pulling up the drip tape disturbed the soil and inoculum of Botrytis and other pathogens in the soil. The water added to the soil to facilitate removal of the drip tape wet the freshly wounded tops, and conditions became highly favorable for neck rot. “The lesson is to recognize what you can control and recognize what drives these pathogens so when you’re implementing a change, we jokingly say ‘you have to think like the pathogen.’ That’s in essence what we’re telling you to do is to recognize what conditions favor the pathogen,” du Toit advises. “It’s hard because there are a lot of pathogens out there, and they aren’t all favored by the same combination of things. But the common theme across all these bulb rotting pathogens is moisture. Moisture is very high risk, but it has to be combined with the right temperatures and/ or wounding.”
OnionWorld.net
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From the NOA
Calendar
Influencing the Influencers:
July 11
By René Hardwick, National Onion Association Director of Public and Industry Relations
595 Onion Ave., Ontario, Ore. Janet Jones, (541) 889-2174 or janet.jones@oregonstate.edu
The NOA Adds to Dietitians’ Toolboxes
Malheur Experiment Station Summer Farm Festival
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July 18-21
ave you noticed all the healthy recipes on display at your local grocery? That’s the work of supermarket dieticians, who are quickly becoming the rock stars of the produce aisles. Supermarket dietitians now work at most grocery chains, educating consumers on good food choices, healthy meal planning and individualized dietary needs. They influence consumers as they shop in a variety of ways that often include “educational selling” techniques, so to speak. Retail dietitians create programs to help families eat at home healthier, they conduct store tours to highlight better-foryou choices, they write blogs, conduct in-store demos, or appear in local media and social media videos showing shoppers how to prepare healthy, seasonal recipes. They know what they’re talking about, and shoppers are listening. According to foodinsight.org, consumers put more of their trust in registered dietitians’ recommendations – for younger adults, that reaches as high as 65 percent; that number grows to 76 percent for older adults. That’s why the number of dietitians in the retail marketplace has ballooned in the past 10 years. What they recommend, consumers buy. Most dietitians, however, don’t have all the information about every vegetable at the ready. They may know a product is healthy, but may not have all the tools they need to dispense that information to consumers. That’s where commodity groups such as the National Onion Association (NOA) come in. We opted to change that and work to educate them more about the almighty onion and offer ways to educate consumers with turnkey information for cooking classes, social media postings and activities to recommend to consumers. This year, in a 33-page toolkit, the NOA created a veritable onion textbook
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for dietitians. It is available through the NOA website (www.onions-usa.org/retail/ retail-dietitians). It was written by Shari Steinbach, a registered dietitian nutritionist who spent 26 years in the business and who knows what content and information dietitians need. It’s called “Onions: Layers of Nutrition and Flavor.” In six sections, dietitians can learn everything they ever wanted to know about the onion: from types and seasons to how to cut, to sustainable growing practices, how to cook with them and ways to stock the pantry for easy meals. We know from experience that the best toolkits stay current, and this one does just that, complete with four seasonal sections to keep onion cooking a part of the conversation, or influence, throughout the year with specific focus on the seasons, from tailgating to holiday party preparations. The first will come this fall, focusing on back-to-school cooking and tailgating. The second, winter, focuses on holidays and winter activities, and the spring/summer supplement will focus on spring parties and summer grilling. Each section comes complete with suggested turnkey resources dietitians can use to educate consumers in store and in the community to promote healthy eating – especially with the onion – and they include cooking demonstrations and tips, and healthful recipes, tailored to cooking for the seasons. We’ve left no stone unturned as we help dietitians discover the wonders of the onion from cooking to nutrition to health. This is the ultimate way to connect with America’s consumers. Supermarket dietitians are a big part of that. Steinbach says, “This kit promotes onions year-round and provides retail dietitians with the timely resources needed to sell more onions during key retail promotional time periods.” We’re pretty proud of this toolkit. The fact that we can put our precious commodity into the hands of these experts is just that added layer.
Onion World • July/August 2018
National Onion Association Summer Convention Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center Bakersfield, Calif. www.onions-usa.org
July 21
Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival Walla Walla, Wash. www.sweetonions.org/festival
Aug. 15-18
Sakata California Field Day
Salinas, Calif. By appointment only. Jiana Escobar, (408) 782-5379 or Jescobar@sakata.com
Aug. 28
Malheur Experiment Station Onion Variety Day 595 Onion Ave., Ontario, Ore. Janet Jones, (541) 889-2174 or janet.jones@oregonstate.edu
Aug. 30
WSU Onion Field Day
Hartley Farms, Prosser, Wash. Tim Waters, (509) 545-3511 or twaters@wsu.edu
Oct. 18-20
PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo Orlando, Fla. www.freshsummit.com
Nov. 14-15
Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, Wash. Sheri Nolan, (509) 585-5460 or www.pnva.org
Editor’s note: To have your event listed, please email: Denise Keller editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com
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