Let the Plantings Begin: Vidalia Onion Growers Benefit from Lack of Tropical System

By Clint Thompson Georgia Vidalia onion producers dodged Hurricane Idalia went it passed through the Southeast on Aug. 30. That, so far, has turned out to be the area’s only threat of a tropical system this fall. It has been a positive development for growers who are on the verge of transplanting this year’s crop, says Chris Tyson, University of …

$3.2 M USDA Grant: CAES Leads Research to Improve Organic Onion Production

A team of researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is partnering with colleagues from Texas A&M University to find more effective production practices for organic onion growers in the southern United States where short-day onions — those that bulb with 11 to 12 hours of sunlight each day — are primarily grown. …

Sen. Ossoff Pushing for Onion Breeder Position at ARS

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop is already one of the top vegetables produced in the state. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (GA) wants to ensure the crop continues to spike in production and popularity. He is calling on the U.S. Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies to appropriate funding to support …

Major Scientific Breakthrough in Onion Research

University of Georgia Extension vegetable pathologist Bhabesh Dutta has led an international team of researchers that have identified a gene cluster in two Pantoea species that produce a phosphonate compound to kill onions. This is a major breakthrough for the onion industry and should pave the way for scientists to breed onions against phosphonate compounds, which are associated with bacterial …

Scala Fungicide No Longer Viable Option on Botrytis for Vidalia Onion Producers

By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion producers should be wary that Scala fungicide appears to not be   effective anymore on botrytis, an important disease that growers contend with every season. That also has an indirect impact on Luna Tranquility’s impact since it partially contains Scala. Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Extension vegetable plant pathologist, discussed the disease and options available for …

Vidalia Plants Significantly Damaged by Christmas Freeze

By Clint Thompson Vidalia onion plants suffered significant damage during the Christmas freeze event. As much as 30% in some fields were impacted by consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures, according to Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area onion agent at the Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia.               ac “We know we’ve got significant stand loss, in …

Upcoming Vidalia Onion Meeting

Georgia Vidalia onion producers should mark their calendars for an upcoming Vidalia Onion Crop Update, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Lyons, Georgia. University of Georgia (UGA) Extension specialists will discuss the recent freeze events and their impact on the current crop. UGA researchers will also present …

Vidalia Onion Extension Agent ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Following Sub-Freezing Temperatures

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop had not been in the ground long before sub-freezing temperatures (temps) impacted Southeast Georgia Christmas Eve. They were especially vulnerable to temps that reached the teens Saturday morning and stayed mostly in the 20s for consecutive days. Still, any damage assessments will have to wait, says Chris Tyson, University of Georgia Extension area …

UGA Extension Encourages Copper Applications for Vidalia Onion Producers

By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Extension vegetable plant pathologist Bhabesh Dutta encourages Vidalia onion producers to apply copper ahead of this weekend’s frigid temperatures. “We need to put out at least copper before the freezing weather sets in. Copper may provide some degree of protection from saprophytes and pathogens after cold injury to foliage” Dutta said. Something is Better …

Vidalia Onion Farmers Wary of Impact from Frigid Weekend

By Clint Thompson A frigid weekend in the forecast for Southeast Georgia could impact the Vidalia onion plants in the ground. Chris Tyson, UGA Extension area onion agent, talked about what producers can expect with the looming sub-freezing temperatures. “Friday night is like the coldest it looks like. Right now, for Reidsville (Georgia), they’re calling for 18 degrees (Fahrenheit) and …