Cooperative
Extension Service
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
George
Boyhan, Extension Horticulturist-Vegetables
East Georgia Extension Center
Rosenwald Building, Third Floor
PO Box 8112
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
912-681-5639 | 912-681-0376, Fax | 912-682-3481,
mobile
The law suit filed by certain seed companies and growers against the Georgia Department of Agriculture was finally settled December 14, 2000, with the plaintiffs winning. The court, in ruling in favor of the seed companies/growers, basically left this year open concerning Vidalia onion varieties. Most growers had held off buying seed until the Georgia Department of Agriculture ruling limiting varieties. This resulted in very few, if any, of the controversial varieties being grown this year.
Commissioner Tommy Irvin has decided to appeal the court decision, so there is still the possibility the ruling could be overturned, although it is a moot point for this season. The court left intact the ability of the Georgia Department of Agriculture to restrict varieties in the future. The Georgia Department of Agriculture wishes to act on variety selection with the recommendations of the University of Georgia. Attempts to change the current law to limit the University of Georgia's participation to supplying the necessary data rather than making specific recommendations were tabled.
In a meeting with Commissioner Irving, the Dean agreed to supply a list of recommended varieties to start the process again. We have variety trials at both the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Farm and at an on-farm location, which will be used -- as will previous years' information -- to make recommendations on varieties. In addition, this year, the Vidalia Onion Committee has funded taste panel evaluations to better assess the flavor of Vidalia onions.
At the last meeting of the Vidalia Onion Committee on January 18, the new committee was seated. Anthony Cowart was elected chairman with Delbert Bland as Vice Chairman and Danny Ray as Secretary/Treasurer. In addition, Bo Herndon was elected as an alternate for Kevin Hendrix. The public member this year will be Mike McDonald of the People's Bank in Lyons, Georgia.
In other business, a USDA representative from the marketing order division was present to discuss some additional duties the VOC could undertake as well as to discuss the referendum on continuing the market order. Every six years, the market order must be renewed through a referendum vote of the growers -- and that time has arrived.
Several different research projects are currently under way at the VOVRC. Dr. Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez is currently conducting research on onion with drip irrigation. He is working with Ron Gitiatus to see if drip irrigation can reduce disease problems. This may also be a useful way to produce onions as a direct seeded crop.
Dr. David Langston is continuing his work on screening fungicides and bactericides on Vidalia onions. Dr. David Riley is also continuing his work on thrip damage and control on onions. Dr. Stanley Culpepper is evaluating herbicides for use on onions. Finally, Dr. Al Purvis is growing onions at this site for use in his controlled atmosphere storage work.
I have been working with agents on direct seeded onions. The VOVRC acquired a Monasam planter this year, so we have been able to more precisely seed onions. Growers have been reluctant to direct seed onions because of increased cold susceptibility, increased seedstems, difficulty in maintaining even moisture during seeding, and precision stand establishment. We are investigating and attempting to address these problems.
One of the major undertakings at the farm is the onion variety trial, which will be used to make recommendations to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. I am also working with Bob Boland on evaluating Grano type onions. These onions are the type of short-day onions grown in Texas. Preliminary results indicate these onions can be successfully grown in Georgia. They tend to be very late in the season and some have shown a greater susceptibility to diseases, however.
I am also working with agents and researchers to re-examine our fertility recommendations for onions. This work includes examination of sulfur fertility on Japanese over-wintering onions as well as nitrogen fertility on late maturing onions.
No all of the work at the VOVRC deals with onions. Currently, work is underway with strawberries (Dr. Phil Brannen) and blackberries (Dr. Gerard Krewer and myself). In addition, I have been working with garlic, leek and artichoke as possible new crops for Georgia.
Work is also planned for this spring and summer. Work on carrot, tomato, squash and watermelon (among others) is planned. The VOVRC has really come into its own this past year. For more information about specific projects, please contact the lead researcher in question. As I have in the past, I encourage you to come by and visit the farm and see the work underway.
From My Desk My responsibilities have been expanded. Dr. Darbie Granberry will be taking on administrative duties in Tifton. He will be giving up some of his extension responsibilities. Starting April 1, I will be taking on extension responsibilities for all cucurbits except pumpkins, which will still be covered by Terry Kelley.
Talk to you next month.