SW New Mexico News

As fields across New Mexico become peppered with the sights and smells of onions, it's an opportune time to delve deeper into one of the state's top vegetable crops. New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) is set to host its annual onion research workshop, previously known as onion field day. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on June 5 at the Fabián García Research Center, located at 113 W. University Ave. in Las Cruces.

Attendees can expect to gain insights into pest and disease management, breeding line advances, and other areas crucial for optimum production. As a bonus, participants will receive free seed packets of heirloom onion cultivars.

NMSU AES Associate Director Lara Prihodko will welcome attendees. The research presentations include:

- Brian Schutte discussing "Improving weed control programs for onions."

- John Idowu presenting on "Perennial cover crops for rotation with onion."

- Suman Sharma exploring "Breeding for Fusarium basal rot resistance."

- Chris Cramer talking about "Onion leaf wax and thrips feeding preference," "Cultivar evaluation for mechanical harvesting," and "Seed regeneration of plant introduction accessions."

- Larry Blackwell and Esther Heerema sharing their findings on "Thrips management."

In 2022, New Mexico harvested 5,700 acres of onions, producing a total of 165,300 tons with a farm-gate value of $153 million. In terms of farm-gate value of agricultural crops grown in the state, onions rank third behind alfalfa and pecans.

For more information about the workshop, contact Stephanie Walker at 575-646-4398 or swalker@nmsu.edu.

In an image from last year's event, New Mexico State University Professor Ivette Guzman is seen addressing participants during the 2022 onion field day. This year’s event, now known as the onion research workshop, will take place June 5 at the Fabián García Research Center in Las Cruces.