- Asparagus Research Farm
- Celebrates 20th Anniversary
- By Karen Gentry
Managing Editor
- Twenty years ago a persistent group of growers decided asparagus research was so important that they would contribute their own money to make it happen.
“Always and still grower and processor funded” could be a slogan for the Michigan Asparagus Industry Research Farm in Hart, Mich., celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. An open house celebration at the farm took place on the evening of June 5. The twilight meeting with a variety showcase was expected to draw 100 growers and researchers.
“The idea for the research farm was hatched in 1982,” said John Bakker, manager of the farm since its inception and the new director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB). Bakker said a group of asparagus growers from the Oceana County area traveled to Canada and toured a research area there.
The growers decided that a research farm in a major production area for asparagus would help growers and the industry stay competitive. “The industry was really growing rapidly,” said Bakker. The growers approached Michigan State University (MSU) but were told funds were not available.
The group went ahead with plans for a research farm, shopped around and found a piece of land with the right type of soil. Initially 3.5 acres were purchased for the farm with 1 1/2 acres added later, Bakker said. The farm is located in the heart of asparagus growing region on a busy thoroughfare with three to four miles of asparagus fields stretching across the road from the farm. The farm is funded through yearly grants from the Michigan Asparagus Research Committee (MARC). MARC receives funding from two sources - a $3 per ton voluntary contribution from processors and packers, which in turn is matched by an equal amount by MAAB, which is grower funded.
“They (processors) certainly see the value of keeping the industry healthy,” said Bakker. He said that because of all of the asparagus variety research processors are getting a higher quality asparagus.
From the beginning growers have worked with researchers from MSU including Dr. Hugh Price, previously with MSU and recently retired from Cornell University. “He was very instrumental, very helpful in establishing the farm,” said Bakker. “We sat down with Hugh and talked about research we wanted. We gave MSU a place to conduct their experiments,” Bakker said.
The first plantings went in 1983, which was two fertilizer trials, variety trial and a plant spacing trial.
“We have 12 different research projects going on this year,” said Bakker. Some projects involve over 100 plots in each test and most projects are done in conjunction with various researchers at MSU, he said.
Bakker said variety testing has by far been the biggest focus of research at the farm. Currently Mathieu Ngouajio from MSU is overseeing a new planting of an international variety trial. Ngouajio is trialing new asparagus varieties soon to be released, Bakker said. MSU’s Bernie Zandstra is working on asparagus weed control while MSU’s Darryl Warncke is doing work with lime and asparagus. Other MSU researchers who regularly work at the research farm include Dr. Mary Hausbeck and Beth Bishop.
Bakker noted that asparagus research is very long term and generally takes seven to eight years. Important research has taken place on the appropriate rates of nitrogen (N) and fertilizers.
“Nitrogen was a concern with its ability to leach into groundwater, especially with our sandy soil,” said Bakker. Before the N research was complete, asparagus growers would typically use 150-200 pounds of N per acre. Through the N study, the research showed that the optimal rate is about 75 pound per acre.
“In essence we cut the industry use of nitrogen fertilizer by about half,” said Bakker about the seven-year study. Plant population studies have also been done, and based on those results asparagus growers have increased the number of plants per acre from 10,000 to over 13,000.
“We’ve done lot of preliminary work with purple spot,” said Bakker. He said some of these trials have been transferred to grower fields. Bakker said in 1983 fiber was a huge problem, which is not a problem with the new varieties. Bakker said asparagus is also getting more uniform in size.
Varieties for the fresh market tend to be a little taller. Based on consumer preferences in the fresh market, the shape and color of asparagus are considerations, and the heads need to be a little tighter, according to Bakker.
“When we do variety testing we don’t think in terms of fresh or processing, we think in terms of high yield,” Bakker said. Spear diameter is a huge factor with diameter over 3/4 inches too large.
“The key thing is identifying new varieties that will keep us competitive,” said Bakker. He said Michigan asparagus growers are producing higher quality asparagus with higher yields. The number of asparagus growers is declining and acreage is decreasing slightly due in part to higher yields.
“There’s more asparagus on fewer acres,” he said. Bakker noted that the Michigan asparagus industry is still 100% family farms.
Bakker’s wife, Marijo, oversees the harvest and data collection at the research farm, and they are also assisted by their daughter, Brooke. They rely on local help during the asparagus harvest, which can be a challenge because picking can take place seven days a week. Harvest typically lasts from the last week of April until the third week of June. They usually average between 22-24 harvests per season.
Growers are concerned about competition from other countries including Peru, Mexico and China, according to Bakker, which makes identifying high quality and high yielding varieties critical.
Growers are also worried about the continued availability of carbaryl (Sevin), currently in the review process. The EPA is currently conducting a re-registration risk assessment on carbaryl. He said the asparagus industry’s goal is to obtain the same worker re-entry period for harvesting as the pre-harvest interval, which is one day.
“It’s been a major product for beetle control,” said Bakker.
Michigan asparagus growers are upbeat this year, according to Bakker. Although there’s concern about the future, this year’s yields should be good and prices are back up to a profitable level.
