LANSING, Mich. — Michigan onion growers are in the midst of a referendum to decide whether their commodity group, the Onion Promotion and Development Program – commonly known as the Michigan Onion Committee – will continue on for another five years.

The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development or (MDARD) mailed the ballots to eligible growers on April 25. A grower is eligible to vote if he or she had an onion crop valued at more than $800 at first point of sale in any of the last three years. MDARD conducts the referendum, which began May 2 and will continue through May 13. The program was established in 1977. By law, it must be resubmitted for grower approval every five years. Currently, the assessment on growers is 6 cents per hundredweight of onions. Assessment money goes toward marketing and research efforts.

Michigan Onion Committee Executive Director Greg Bird said there are 30 eligible onion growers in Michigan. “Most of what we do is research,” Bird said. “Seed vendors provide us with their seeds to use and we do seed trials. I think most of our growers are happy with us, but I’m sure there are controversies. There’s always going to be those who don’t want to pay the assessment.” Michigan ranks seventh in the nation for onion production, with about 2,500 acres devoted to the crop. According to Bird, most onion growers raise other crops, too, especially celery, because both vegetables grow well in muck soils. Bird added as an aside that muck soil is extremely well drained, almost sandy type soil, contrary to popular belief.

Michigan State University (MSU) Professor Emeritus Darrell Warncke coordinates the seed trials that are conducted for the onion crop each year. “This is a variety observational trial with seeds provided by the seed companies to see which varieties do the best,” Warncke said. “We try to look for the new varieties to see what they have. This year we have varieties from seven different companies.” Warncke said the variety seed trials serve as a backdrop to the yearly Michigan Twilight Educational Meeting, a one-day affair for growers that usually takes place in August, where results of the onion seed trials are presented. According to Warncke, most onions grown in Michigan are yellow cooking onions, as well as a few red onions, which he noted are actually purple in color.

For the program to be renewed, more than 50 percent of the grower votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total unit of measure represented on the cast ballots, must approve it. Each grower is entitled to one vote representing a single firm, individual proprietorship, corporation, company, association, partnership, or a husband and wife or family ownership. All completed ballots must be postmarked by May 13 and should be sent to MDARD, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909. Anyone with questions may call 800-292-3939 Monday through Friday 8am-5pm.