Featured image: Stuart Reitz, Director of Oregon State University’s Malheur Station in Ontario, OR
While many aspects of daily activity came to a grinding halt in 2020, the produce industry as a whole and the onion industry as a segment maintained its pace to keep the nation fed. And behind the scenes, research teams kept their “noses to the grindstone” in an effort to assist growers and packers in production and safety matters.
Our research friends in Idaho and E. Oregon are known for their excellent programs, and throughout 2020 they conducted trials, testing and other studies at their respective facilities.
Stuart Reitz is Director of Oregon State University’s Malheur Station in Ontario, where he oversees research and communicates with onion growers. In Idaho Mike Thornton, Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Idaho, and James Woodhall, Plant Pathologist, oversee operations. This past winter saw Stuart and his team working on equipment and facilities and writing reports of their many research results, as did the Idaho team.
Normally the results of all these tests and trials are given to members of the Idaho-Malheur County Onion Growers Association at the annual meeting in February, but COVID-19 restrictions sidelined that event in February 2021.
However, the results of the teams’ combined resources have been compiled in a comprehensive report outlining current projects, and the book was sent out to Association members in lieu of in-person distribution.
We are excited to share this extensive document, which includes information on weed control, pink root control, Stemphylium leaf blight in the Treasure Valley, variety trial results, cost of production analysis, long-term storage cultivars, and more. Download the complete document below.
Our thanks to the researchers of Idaho and E. Oregon.
