Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:First - Utah onion growers, onion shippers and packers, and associated groups important to and associated with onions. Then - US onion industry and associated groups. Other groups targeted: cooperative extension specialists, county extension staff, state (Dept. of Agriculture) and Federal (NRCS, Risk Management) agencies interested in onion production information, at the local, regional, and national levels. Changes/Problems:Getting onions into the ground in March of 2020 was a bit of a challenge given early COVID restrictions. Once planted, early data collection was hampered by travel restrictions until a project plan was finalized. While planting went smoothly, a lack of early data has limited our understanding of establishment relationships with later season growth and yield. Study will continue in 2021. No other issues were experienced or occurred in 2020. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Shared findings from 2019 with the Utah Onion Growers at the 2020 Winter Meetings (Feb. 11, 2020); Brigham City, UT (43 growers, industry leaders, and agency employees attended). Meetings pre-COVID lock-down. Topics covered; Stand variability and crop productivity; Onion Leaf Miner update; Onion Water Use; and 3008 regional research report "Stop the Rot". How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Held individual discussions with local and regional onion farmers during Utah winter meetings. Participated in ZOOM planning and data sharing meetings (monthly) with other members of research community associated with "Stop the Rot" project. Discussed USU research and production issues with participants and research findings USU generated by Nischwitz and Drost. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Will continue to address concerns raised by Utah's local onion industry through the following objectives: 1) Evaluate novel and new approaches to managing bacterial rots (Nischwitz/Drost) as part of Utah's contributions to the USDA-NIFA "Stop the Rot" initiative; 2) Continue to investigate water conservation and utilization in onions (Allen/Drost); 3) Identify the interaction between plant density and irrigation practices (Drost); 4) explore how stand variability impacts crop productivity (Drost/Pace); 5) Track the incidence of Allium Leaf Miners in Commercial Onions in Utah (Nischwitz/Drost); and 6) Facilitate discussions among W3008 participants and local onion industry stakeholders that will advance onion disease management. Objective 1. Through on-farm sampling and controlled research, explore bacterial disease presence and management approaches for Utah conditions. Obj. 2. Using existing grower practices, assess crop water use and onion productivity to identify water conservation practices for high value crops. Obj. 3. Provide growers with crop density details to help create production practices that meet market demands. Obj. 4. Use emergence variability to better understand early plant growth and how this impacts productivity variability later in the year. Obj. 5. Provide yearly report to W3008 leadership committee to be included in annual reporting. Share topics of interest with Utah Onion growers at Utah Onion Association board meetings and winter educational event (Feb 2021). Work with local growers to solve local issues. Use Utah Onion Association board to help direct local research important to the area and work to secure funding to support those efforts.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Facilitated acquisition of and distribution of some onion varieties for planting on the Fowers Farm in Bear River City, Utah. Growers will be planting these and will collect production data in 2020. Assessed establishment and early growth of density trials planted (planted March 19-21, 2020) on Bennett and Norman Farms in Weber/Box Eder Counties. Due to COVID, early assessments in late March through early May were sporadic but as season progressed, we were able to keep up with data collection and onion harvest in September. Planted onions to evaluate the role of plant population on onion productivity. Studies involved evaluation of stand emergence, early growth, and how this impacts late season bulb size variability. We intend to share our findings with Utah onion growers, extension personnel, and industry leaders at 2021 Utah Onion Growers meetings (Feb 9 - virtually). At present, these meetings will be on-line and virtual. Helped Dr. Niel Allen evaluate how irrigation impacts bulb productivity (part of Utah Water Initiative) by providing him with equipment needed to run field production measurements while the growers were lifting and windrowing the crop. Cancelled 2020 Onion Field Day at the request of the Utah Onion Association (COVID concerns). Worked with 3 local onion growers to solve problems critical to their respective farms during the summer and fall. Help Dr. Claudia Nischwitz with her efforts associated with the "Stop the Rot" project. We maintained her field trials (watered, weeding, fertility, etc.), advised her on maturity dates, and help with finding storage for the trial.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Drost, D. T. (2020, April). Bouncing Back. Onion World, 6-7.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Presentations
Drost, D. T., Utah Kaysville Horticulture Field Tour, "Organic Cover Crops and Vegetable Production Update," Utah Cooperative Extension, Davis Co Utah. (June 30, 2020)
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:First - Utah onion growers, onion shippers and packers, and associated groups important to and associated with onions. Then - US onion industry and associated groups. Other groups targeted: cooperative extension specialists, county extension staff, state (Dept. of Agriculture) and Federal (NRCS, Risk Management) agencies interested in onion production information, at the local, regional, and national levels. Changes/Problems:None experienced or occurred in 2019. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Invited Dr. Bruce Searle (Crop & Food NZ) as keynote speaker for the 2019 Utah Onion Grower Winter Meetings (Feb. 2019); Brigham City, UT (45 growers, industry leaders, and agency employees attended). Topics covered; overview of onion production in NZ, Stand variability and crop productivity. Drost shared report on 3008 regional research meetings and 2018 variety trial findings with the group. Utah research report presented at W3008 meetings (Madison, WI; Jul 24). Topic included status of Utah's onion industry, research activities with Niel Allen and Claudia Nischwitz. Organized and participated in half-day onion farm tour (Davis-Weber Co., UT; Aug 14). Discussed onion water use (Allen), variety trial results (Drost), Plant populations and bulb production (Drost), and stand variability and uniformity (Drost). Growers and USU research discussed 2019 production difficulties and how that may impact onion production. (43 growers, researchers, extension, and industry members attended). Shared (Nischwitz and Drost) on-going and future USU research with Utah Onion Association Board members (Nov 4) board meeting. Solicited grower input on research activities, gained grower buy-in on future projects and participation, and received input on future needs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Individual discussions with local and regional onion farmers during Utah Field days and at W3008 meetings. Shared USU onion research with Utah growers and national onion growers at the 2019 International Allium Conference (Jul 25-27) held after the W3008 meetings in Madison, WI. Shared USU research and production issues with interested participants and research findings USU generated by Nischwitz, Allen, and Drost. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Will continue to address concerns raised by Utah's local onion industry through the following objectives: 1) Evaluate novel and new approaches to managing bacterial rots (Nischwitz/Drost) as part of new national initiative; 2) Continue to investigate water conservation and utilization in onions (Allen/Drost); 3) Identify the interaction between plant density and irrigation practices (Drost); 4) explore how stand variability impacts crop productivity (Drost); and 5) Facilitate discussions among W3008 participants and local onion industry stakeholders that will advance onion disease management. Objective 1. Through on-farm sampling and controlled research, explore bacterial disease presence and management approaches for Utah conditions. Obj. 2. Using existing grower practices, assess crop water use and onion productivity to identify water conservation practices for high value crops. Obj 3. Provide growers with crop density details to help tailor production practices that meet market demands. Obj. 4. Use emergence variability to better understand growth and productivity variability within Utah onions through on-farm and targeted research. Obj. 5. Provide yearly report to W3008 leadership committee to be included in annual reporting. Share topics of interest with Utah Onion growers at Utah Onion Association board meetings and winter educational event (Feb 2020). Work with local growers to solve local issues. Use Utah Onion Association board to help direct local research important to the area and work to secure funding to support those efforts.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Planted 28 onion varieties at two locations (Weber/Box Elder Co.) in Northern Utah. Assessed establishment and early growth for late planted (Apr 29) onions. Due to poor performances, erratic stands and late maturity, crop not evaluated through harvest in 2019. Shared findings with Utah onion growers, extension personnel, and industry leaders at 2019 Utah Onion Field Day (Aug 14). Planted onions to evaluate the role of plant population on onion productivity. Evaluated stand emergence, early growth, and how this impacts late season bulb size variability. Helped Niel Allen evaluate how irrigation impacts bulb productivity (part of Utah Water Initiative). Worked with 5 local onion growers to solve problems critical to their respective farms. Participated in grant writing (lead - Washington state Univ.) for USDA-NIFA-SCRI onion project titled "Stop the Rot - Combating onion bacterial diseases with pathogenomic tools and enhanced management strategies". Notified in Aug 2019 that grant was funded. USU portion is $150,000 with Claudia Nischwitz as the local PI. Coordinating with Nischwitz on needs for 2020 Utah trials. Nischwitz responsible for bacterial assessments and Drost organizing field trials (management strategies).
Publications
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Progress 11/08/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:First - Utah onion growers, onion shippers and packers, and associated groups important to and associated with onions. Then - US onion industry and associated groups. Other groups targeted: cooperative extension specialists, county extension staff, state (Dept. of Agriculture) and Federal (NRCS, Risk Management) agencies interested in onion production information. Changes/Problems:None experienced. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Invited keynote speaker; New Zealand Onion Grower Meetings (May 2018); Ashburton and Pukekohe, New Zealand (100 growers, industry leaders, and agency employees attended). Topics covered creating sustainable production practices using Utah and W2008 and 3008 regional research findings. Keynote speaker, 2018 LandWISE Conference (125 attendees), Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. (http://www.landwise.org.nz/events-2/past/landwise-2018-technologies-for-timely-actions/landwise-2018-programme/). Presentation title: Sustainable Crop Production: Field and Farmscape Management of Onions. Organized and participated in half-day onion farm tour (Tremonton, UT; Aug 7). Discussed British and New Zealand onion production practices and issues. Noted their interest in variety evaluations, irrigation management, crop and pest control, and how to create sustainable onion production. (50 growers, researchers, extension, and industry members attended). Utah research report presented at W3008 meetings (Kennewick, WA; Nov 13-14). Topic included status of Utah's onion industry, research activities made available from Claudia Nischwitz, and sharing of W2008/3008 research findings with onion producers in England and New Zealand. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Individual discussions with local and regional onion farmers during Utah Field days and at W3008 meetings. Shared USU onion research with growers in England (interest in pest management) and New Zealand (pesticide use reduction and management strategies). Talked about research and production issues that drew on Utah experiences and research findings USU generated by Alston, Nischwitz, Ransom, and Drost). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will address these concerns through the following objectives: 1) Evaluate onion germplasm for resistance or tolerance to plant pathogens and insect pests; 2) Investigate the biology, ecology and management of onion thrips and other pests; and 3) Facilitate discussions among W3008 participants and onion industry stakeholders that will advance onion pest and disease management. Obj 1. Continue screening commercially available onion cultivars for adaption to Utah conditions. Assess plant growth, maturity, and productivity and their tolerances to IYSV. Obj 3. Provide yearly report to W3008 leadership committee to be included in annual reporting. Share topics of interest with Utah Onion growers at Utah Onion Association board meetings and winter educational event (Feb 2019). Work with local growers to solve local issues. Use Utah Onion Association board to help direct local research important to the area and work to secure funding to support those efforts.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Drost, Nischwitz and Alston; Utah members of the W3008 working group along with the working group received "Excellence in Multistate Research Award" from the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (July 2018) for this program. Planted 31 onion varieties at two locations in Northern Utah. Assessed establishment, early growth, adaption, maturity, and productivity and evaluated these lines tolerances to IYSV and other diseases. Shared findings with Utah onion growers, extension personnel, and industry leaders at 2018 Utah Onion Field Day. Worked with local onion growers to solve problems critical to their respective farms. Participated in grant writing (lead - Washington state Univ) for USDA-NIFA-SCRI onion project titled "Stop the Rot - Combating onion bacterial diseases with pathogenomic tools and enhanced management strategies. Asked to participate in grant writing (lead - Texas A&M) a USDA-SCRI planning grant titled "Onion Management - 21st century Tools".
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Drost, D. T., Utah Onion Association Summer Tour, "Onion Varieties for Utah," Utah Cooperative Extension, Box Elder Co Utah. (August 7, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Drost, D. T., Utah Onion Association Summer Tour, "World Onion Issues - Europe and New Zealand," Utah Cooperative Extension, Box Elder Co Utah. (August 7, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Drost, D. T., Alston, D. G., Nischwitz, C., New Zealand Onion Growers Association - Nth Island, "Field and Farmscape Management: Dealing with Onion Enemies," Onion New Zealand, Pukekohe, New Zealand. (May 28, 2018 - May 29, 2018)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Drost, D. T., Alston, D. G., Nischwitz, C., New Zealand Onion Growers Association - South Island, "Dealing with Onion Enemies: Field and Farm Management Approaches," Onion New Zealand, Ashburton, New Zealand. (May 21, 2018 - May 22, 2018)
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