Revolutionizing short-day onion harvest with $5.2 million grant

USAgNet - 01/11/2024

Texas A&M AgriLife Research has embarked on an ambitious project to revolutionize short-day onion production in the southern U.S., thanks to a substantial $5.2 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This project, titled "Ensuring Future Economic Viability of U.S. Short-Day Onion Production Through Mechanical Harvesting," aims to address the challenges faced in harvesting this crop.

Short-day onions, predominant in the southern U.S., require 10-12 hours of daylight for bulb production. In 2023, the industry produced 75,460 tons of onions across 7,158 acres in South Texas, contributing significantly to the state's economy.

The project's focus is to overcome the challenges of harvesting these onions. Traditionally harvested by hand due to their high-water content and susceptibility to bruise damage, the goal is to transition to a more efficient, mechanized system. This change is crucial, considering the high labor costs and declining competitiveness of U.S. onion production compared to foreign sources.

Texas A&M AgriLife's approach includes identifying suitable cultivars and production practices for mechanical harvesting and modifying existing systems to reduce damage to the onions. The team will also assess the impact of mechanical harvesting on profitability and risks for onion growers and communicate these findings to the industry.

Collaboration with equipment manufacturers, seed companies, and technology providers is key to the project's success. By leveraging the expertise of a stakeholder advisory panel and scientific advisers, the project aims to streamline the cultivar development cycle and enhance bulb quality and storability.

This comprehensive project stands as a testament to Texas A&M AgriLife Research's commitment to advancing agricultural practices, ensuring better results and profitability for onion producers in the U.S.

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