By Benjamin Phillips and Benjamin Werling et.al
Weather
The past week featured temperatures that were well below normal for the time of year, resulting in crops being in a kind of “suspended animation,” which will soon change with the arrival of warmer weather. Most areas of the state got 1 inch of rain over the past week, with some west central Michigan areas getting 2 inches.
This week’s forecast calls for:
- Occasional light rain developing southwest in lower Michigan, spreading northeast during the day. Fair and dry in upper Michigan. Lingering light rain possible early Thursday, May 29. Scattered showers also possible Friday to the north. Fair, dry and warmer statewide this weekend.
- High temperatures in the 60s Wednesday, May 28, warming to the 70s this weekend. Lows generally in the 40s to low 50s through this weekend.
- Medium range outlooks call for a return of warmer than normal weather next week. Precipitation totals are forecast to remain at normal to below normal levels early, increasing to normal to above normal levels by the second week of June.
Share your GLEXPO session ideas
The organizers behind the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Markets Expo (GLEXPO) are asking you to share your ideas for topics and speakers you would like to see at the conference in future years. This is your chance to provide input for an educational agenda you would like to see at GLEXPO. See more details in the Michigan State University Extension article, “Submit your session or speaker ideas for 2025 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo.”
Mulch madness
Plastic mulches are widely used in onion production and provide multiple benefits, including weed suppression, increased yield, temperature and moisture retention, as well as an insect repellent. With several types of plastic mulch available, you may be wondering which one is the best fit for your operation. Below is a short summary based on a study conducted by the Vegetable Entomology Lab at Michigan State University, along with observations from growers. You can read the full study on onion thrips control with plastic mulches in the Onion World magazine.
Black mulch can help increase soil temperature early in the season but may cause the soil to become too warm during and later in the season.
White mulch helps retain soil moisture but does not increase soil temperatures as much as black mulch does. However, both black and white plastic mulches have been associated with higher onion thrips populations compared to bare ground, red and silver mulches.
Red mulch has been shown to increase soil temperature and promote faster onion growth compared to other mulches, while also reducing onion thrips populations.
Silver mulch has also been effective at reducing onion thrips numbers but may delay onion growth early in the season. Not all silver mulches are equally effective at reducing onion thrips, we tested a silver mulch with a textured surface for increased reflectivity which worked much better at repelling thrips compared to a silver mulch that had a smooth surface.
Silver mulch with black mulch stripe in the center is a newer option tested by growers which we are seeing this season. The silver portion is where onions are planted and is made from a different material (smooth) than the textured silver mulch discussed above. This combination of silver and black is expected to increase soil temperature and reduce thrips pressure. However, to our knowledge, no formal studies or field observations have been conducted with this combination yet. We will be monitoring its performance closely this season and will keep you updated.
Source : msu.edu