Thanks to Dan Drost for sending the photos featured in our story. Featured image caption by Dan Drost: “Steve McArthur (Vigour Vegetable Seeds New Zealand) showing off onions in Pukekohe, NZ. Steve sponsored me for a day on my last venture in New Zealand.”
Onion growers in Utah and Michigan will be holding meetings on Tuesday, Feb. 12, with great agendas set for both areas.
The Michigan Onion Committee’s meeting held in Lansing will be opened by Chairman Bruce Klamer, and the morning session will feature a report from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development presented by Heather Throne as well as an MSU Extension report from Ben Werling and the Executive Director’s report from Val Vail-Shirey. Following old and new business reports, there will be two research presentations, the first from Dr. Zsofia Szendrei on insect control priorities and the second from Dr. Zack Hayden on nitrogen fertility trials in onions. Dr. Hayden’s report will include a follow-up discussion of ideas for future research.
The afternoon session will include an update on Stemphylium control in onions by Dr. Mary Hausbeck, followed by a discussion of ideas for future research. The board will discuss and determine research priorities prior to adjournment. The next meeting is scheduled for June 13. For more information on the Michigan meeting, contact the Michigan Onion office at 517-372-1500.
Out West, the Annual Utah Onion Association Meeting will take place at the Bridgerland Applied Technology College Conference Room of Utah State University’s campus in Brigham City, with an exhibit presentation to include USU variety results and display as well as Industry Table Displays and a Presentation Folder.
Utah Onion Association President Tyson Roberts will call the meeting to order, and the 2018 Variety Trials W3008 Onion Report will be given by USU Vegetable Specialist Dan Drost. A session on onion weed management strategies and decision-making exercise will be presented by USU Weed Specialist Corey Ranson, followed by Bruce Searle, plant and food research specialist from New Zealand, who will discuss growing onions in New Zealand, looking specifically at practices and challenges.
Extension Irrigation Specialist Niel Allen (left) discusses water filtration with Curtis Marble (right) near his drip irrigated onion field.
A mid-morning socializing break will allow participants to meet with vendors and view onion displays, with the sessions taking up again at 10:30 with produce safety rules updates by Food Safety Specialist David Call of USU. Bruce Searle will then discuss “Management Action Zones for Onions – Mapping and Managing Variability,” and the final morning session will look at water management and “Decision Making in Times of Drought” led by Ruby Ward and Kynda Curtis, Ag Economists with USU.
The business meeting/luncheon will follow, with reports and elections include. The afternoon session will be a USU Research Advisory Board Meeting open to all growers.
For more information on the Utah meeting, contact Dan Drost at 435-797-2258.
Thanks to Dan Drost for sending the photos featured in our story! Featured image caption by Dan Drost: “Steve McArthur (Vigour Vegetable Seeds New Zealand) showing off onions in Pukekohe, NZ. Steve sponsored me for a day on my last venture in New Zealand.”
