Onion World: The Voice of the Onion Industry

The Vidalia Farm – Seven Years and Counting

Onion World
September/October 2005

By George E. Boyhan and Reid L. Torrance
University of Georgia

The Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center started as a unique cooperative effort of both the public and private sectors. The Vidalia onion industry is unique in having a defined area of southeast Georgia where these short-day mild onions can be produced. These onions are recognized by both the state of Georgia, which owns the Vidalia name for marketing purposes, and the federal government, through market order 955.

The University of Georgia (UGA) had never had a presence in the Vidalia growing region for the purposes of conducting onion research. The growers were able to lobby for a researcher, Dr. George Boyhan, who started working in the area in 1997. However, except for on-farm research, the closest UGA research facility was in Savannah, well outside the region and with a somewhat different soil type.

First Trial Conducted
Beginning in 1998, an attempt was made to secure a site inside the growing region for onion research. At that time, a proposed site was being used by the Department of Corrections to grow vegetables. This site was previously used as a pine tree seedling nursery called the Page Nursery. The entire site comprised about 70 acres, broken into 11 acre blocks which could be irrigated with a portable pipe irrigation system. Warehouses, an office and equipment sheds were already on the site, although not in the best of shape.
The first onion variety trial at the site took place during the 1998-99 season. Using his own equipment, a local grower prepared the site. Inmates were used to plant this first crop.

That winter, funds were secured through Senator Jack Hill, a local state senator, to finance the research farm. A line item of $100,000 was secured from the Georgia Legislature for the Department of Corrections. Of that amount, $25,000 was used to supply a corrections officer and a detail of inmates to handle the labor requirements. The remaining $75,000 went to the university, which hired a farm superintendent and used some of the funds for overhead. Other sources of funds were used to buy equipment such as tractors, driers and sprayers. In addition, Haines Equipment Co. made a generous offer of a brand new onion grading line. As mentioned previously, the buildings were not in the best shape. One of the warehouses had to be completely rebuilt. Senator Hill was able to get that funded.

Times have not always been good for the farm. A downturn in the Georgia economy a few years ago necessitated a 5 percent across-the-board cut in state funding. Consequently, a move was made to close the farm. However, local growers and politicians rallied around the farm and kept it going. The Vidalia Onion Committee, which has recently emerged from its own financial problems, has also recommitted to supporting the farm. It has given $25,000 to support the farm and the Vidalia-controlled atmosphere facility in Tifton, Ga.

Includes Land for Organic Production
In addition, the farm is the site of the only certified organic land in the university system. Approximately one acre has been certified for organic research. Organic Vidalia onion research has been conducted on the site for the past several years. Organic Vidalia onion production represents a small, but growing, portion of the industry.

Although the primary focus of the farm is onion research, this has not precluded research on a variety of other vegetable and fruit crops. Over the years, research involving carrots, brassicas, garlic, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn, tomatoes and other crops has taken place. Blackberry and strawberry research also has been conducted at the farm. The farm is definitely a year-round operation with research plots continually under observation.

The farm land is still owned by the Forestry Commission, which has a long-term lease with the UGA. The Department of Corrections continues to support the farm with a corrections officer and detail of inmates. It has also been very supportive in loaning equipment and sharing compost from the prison composting operation. Local county extension agents have been very supportive in cooperating on research at the farm. The Vidalia Onion Committee continues to support the farm with funds and lobbying efforts on its behalf. It’s been seven years and counting.

>> Return to top