By Greg Bird, Executive Director, Michigan Onion Committee
Someone said my article in the September/October 2025 issue of Onion World was funny! This put me on cloud nine (someone read it, and someone got my sense of humor). My friend Pat does not like my sense of humor. Pat was in the Navy. Perhaps those in the Navy do not like my sense of humor. I have the utmost respect for everyone who serves in our armed forces. I forgive you if you do not find me funny. “Forward ho” to the latest onion report from Michigan.
Until the last year or two, there was a Michigan onion grower who grew on sandy soils. This farm was the outlier as most grow on muck soils. I believe this also to be the case for onions in other states in the Great Lakes region, for example in Wisconsin, Michigan and New York. With that being said, onion growers in the Great Lakes have similar needs. Onion growers in the West and South have different needs. I will say that the Stop the Rot project led by Lindsay du Toit with Washington State University was probably useful for anyone growing storage onions. du Toit was not able to join us for the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo onion session a few years ago. However, we were lucky enough to have Bhabesh Dutta from the University of Georgia give a presentation about Stop the Rot.
The 2026 Great Lakes Expo, set for Dec. 8-10, is ramping up with the best onion session ever, followed by a lunch for speakers and onion growers. An early plan for the session includes Christy Hoepting and Brian Nault from Cornell University. There will be two speakers from Michigan State University and possibly someone from the Department of Horticulture. We also hope to have someone from Ontario, Canada, who is an expert in smart weeding.
What is happening in Michigan’s Onion Committee? The committee was awarded another Specialty Crop Block Grant and will be working with Joshua Miranda at Michigan State University on a new project titled “Expanding Weed Management Options in Onions Using Directed-Energy Technologies.” There are fewer onion growers in Michigan than there were many years back. This makes filling the appointed positions on the Onion Committee difficult. Bruce Klamer of Byron Center, Michigan, and Michael Bosch of Hamilton, Michigan, have served for many, many years. In mid-August, they were replaced by Jeff Hawkins and Kyler Vandenberg. Klamer and Bosch can remain part of the industry, but just not have to worry about attending board meetings.
If I had to guess, Michigan’s onion harvest might be down some this year from last year. The acres planted were similar. But, Michigan had heavy floods in April and then heavy freezes following. Therefore, some replanted acres probably will not produce very well. This doesn’t necessarily mean a small crop, but just smaller than 2025.