Development of disease management, fertility, and weed control best practices for northeast garlic production

Development of disease management, fertility, and weed control best practices for northeast garlic production

Summary

Garlic is a $20 million industry in New York, and it represents and important and growing niche crop across the Northeast. As the numbers of garlic growers and acreage in garlic have increased, the number of diseases associated with this once trouble-free crop have also increased. Nearly 25% of growers surveyed indicated they have lost 30% or more of their garlic crop at least once in the last five years.

To reduce these losses and increase productivity, we developed best practices for garlic in the Northeast through a series of research trials. A post-harvest trial compared treatments by examining marketable yield and disease incidence following heated curing, cutting garlic tops and roots prior to curing, and washing immediately following harvesting. A weed control trial compared both organic and conventional options to determine which weed controls are the most efficient, effective, and feasible for organic and conventional growers. A fertility trial compared available recommendations from the Northeast to determine optimal timing and rates of fertilizers. These trials are replicated from the Albany, NY area down to Long Island, providing a diversity of soils, environmental conditions, and hardiness zones which will be applicable throughout the Northeast.

At this point all of the research trials have been completed. A second fertility trial was planted to follow up on the first, but the site experienced significant winter losses which prevented us from collecting useful data. The results of all three sets of trials have been shared with growers through meetings, newsletter articles, and website information, with a focus on the post-harvest trial results and fertility results, which growers have found more immediately applicable than the weed control results, which were heavier on herbicide use than most growers were interested in.

Objectives/Performance Targets

2) 250 farmers attend winter meetings and garlic schools to learn about fertility, weed control, and post-harvest care. 120 growers fill out surveys detailing their issues and responding to research information. Winters ‘12 and ’13- these growers receive email survey in 2014 (item 5). 

All completed, but one final survey will be sent to all growers this month. It has been determined that surveying growers at festivals and workshops is more effective than surveying the entire list, so focus has been there, but the email survey will still be administered.

3) 100 growers receive research trial information at the Saugerties Garlic Festival through CCE and the Garlic Seed Foundation. 65 complete surveys (same as winter meeting survey). Sept. ‘12 Sept ’13 and Sept ’14 

Yes, see further information below. Information handed out this year is attached.

4) 700 growers purchase Cornell Guidelines with new garlic chapter. 150 additional growers access garlic chapter online. First draft complete Sept ’12, second draft with all results complete Sept ’13. Effectiveness of this new tool assessed in Sept. ‘14

This has again been postponed while fertility recommendations were being considered. The lack of a second year of data leaves us less than confident in our recommendations. 

5) 30 growers receive more in-depth help implementing changes based on research findings from CCE educators or the Garlic Seed Foundation. The progress of these growers is tracked extensively by educators. 

Support is completed.

5) 1000 growers receive online survey link through newsletters. 100 farmers fill out survey indicating changes they have made based on research trial information and education. Sept. ‘14

Performance target: 50 garlic growers representing 100 acres of garlic will increase yields by 10% or more by optimizing their fertility programs based on soil tests and our recommendations and/or by reducing weed competition using a new technique. This increase in yield will increase production on these 100 acres by 80,000 pounds, which will increase gross income by $640,000, or an average of $12,800 per grower (based on initial production of 8,000lb/A).

Post-harvest best practices: 50 garlic growers representing 100 acres of garlic will reduce curing time by 50%, from an average of 10-14 days to 5-10 days. Reducing curing time reduces incidence of diseases including Botrytis alli (neck rot), Pennicillium sp. (blue mold), and surface molds. It also slows the spread of Fusarium proliferatum (Fusarium bulb rot)(12). During years with poor natural curing conditions, we expect growers with reduced pre-curing leaf and root mass and/or warm storage areas to experience reductions of at least 25% in disease incidence over storage in open-air facilities. Based on our results, this would result in an economic benefit of at least $427,400, or an average of $8,548 per grower.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1) 1000 farmers receive 3 articles detailing research findings in the Veg Edge (450 subscribers) and The Garlic Press (600 subscribers in the Northeast). Winter ‘12-’13.

3 article and the research findings handout have been distributed through the VegEdge and the Garlic Press, respectively, reaching approximately 1050 people (2014).

An additional article on weed control will be written and distributed to Veg Edge  and the Garlic Press this winter.

2) 250 farmers attend winter meetings and garlic schools to learn about fertility, weed control, and post-harvest care. 120 growers fill out surveys detailing their issues and responding to research information.

We reached this goal in the first year and have continued to provide educational events and survey attendees.

We again had garlic schools in the early spring of 2014 in two locations in New York. 55 growers attended the session in Albany. 40 people attended the garlic school at Geneva, NY.  The garlic schools are now an annual event, and are being expanded into three locations (Geneva, Saratoga Springs, and the Hudson Valley) this year.

A total list of all talks and attendees is here:

3) 100 growers receive research trial information at the Saugerties Garlic Festival through CCE and the Garlic Seed Foundation. Well over 100 growers received information at Saugerties this year.).

4) 700 growers purchase Cornell Guidelines with new garlic chapter. 150 additional growers access garlic chapter online.

The chapter was again delayed, and will be completed and disseminated at the garlic schools in March 2015. At this point it will also be published online.

5) 30 growers receive more in-depth help implementing changes based on research findings from CCE educators or the Garlic Seed Foundation. Ongoing through project

20 growers have received in-depth help implementing changes so far, with many more receiving one-on-one consultation on a smaller scale. This has not been documented as well as we had originally planned, but it is becoming clear through the surveys that our work is very impactful, so we are capturing the needed information.

• Postharvest results summary for Hershey Proceedings
• 2014 Garlic School Survey
• Hudson Valley Garlic School Final Survey
• Fertility trial results shared at Hudson Valley Garlic Festival

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Initial impacts, based on the survey results to date:

Growers report increasing their overall knowledge by 25% over the course of the project, from an average score of 6.3/10 to an average of 8.7/10. 

More importantly, many growers are implementing changes based on the resarch.

41% of garlic growers surveyed at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival are cutting the tops on their garlic prior to drying, and 14% more are considering doing so.

38% are drying in an environment warmer than the outside environment, and 10% more are considering doing so. Given that this is a major change which requires investment to make, we are pleased with this result.

69% are field grading to remove damaged and diseased garlic prior to it reaching the drying area. 

Changes in fertility and weed control practices will be gleaned from the final survey.

Collaborators: