Top: Crops: Onion: Cull Onion Memorandum:

MEMORANDUM

Date:   March 2, 2005

From:  Michael E. Cooper, Chief

            Bureau of Feeds and Plant Services

To:      Idaho Onion Producers

Subject: Cull Onion Disposal

We are expecting it to be a big year for cull onions. March 15^th is the deadline for disposal of cull onion piles in Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Owyhee and Washington Counties, according to state rules.  Please remember these are your rules and were put into place at the request of the industry to help keep the maggot population under control.

According to the rules, cull onions – those not useable for human consumption or deemed waste - must be disposed of by March 15^th of each year or within one week of sorting after March 15^th. Trucks transporting onions should be covered to prevent spillage along roadsides.  Such spilled onions create good breeding sites for the onion maggot.

A civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation has been in effect since 2000.  There are also new disposal methods such as dumping, feeding, composting, spreading, chopping and shredding.  The University of Idaho “Best Management Practices” for the dumping or pit disposal of culls is referenced in the rules and is available through the University of Idaho Extension Service.

The onion maggot adult flies emerge in April and May and are attracted to the volatile odors given off by sprouting onions and new seedlings.  The onion maggot can destroy up to two dozen seedlings during its two week life span, so damage to a field can be substantial.  If not properly disposed of, culls serve as breeding and egg-laying sites for the adult flies.

I understand that there are a lot of onions still in storage. Onions actively being removed from storage and disposed of in accordance with the requirements listed below are considered to be in compliance with the rule even if it is after the March 15^th deadline.

I have summarized the disposal requirements of the rules below for your convenience:

All cull onions shall be disposed of by one of the approved methods are below. Disposal must be completed prior to March 15^th, of each year; and onions sorted after  March 15^th, shall be disposed of within one (1) week after sorting regardless of the disposal method, which would include feeding to livestock. 

1) Disposal by Covering in Dumps or Pits.

a. Cull onions disposed of by being dumped into pits shall be managed and covered as recommended by the University of Idaho Agricultural Extension Service.

b. Covering shall be accomplished by March 15^th of each year or as provided in item 1 above. 

2) Disposal by Feeding After March 15^th of Each Year.

 a. Sheep or goats shall be fed no more than fifty-three (53) pounds of cull onions per individual animal per day. Cull onions shall be fed from either bunks or by spreading throughout the pasture or feedlot. Cull onions shall not be fed from piles.

b. Cattle shall be fed a ration containing no more than twenty-five percent (25%) cull onions on a dry matter basis.

c. Onion debris shall be completely removed from feeding areas and buried under twelve (12) inches or more of onion-free soil by March 15^th of each year or if they cannot be removed, treated as out lined in item d below.

d. In the case of residues of onion debris two (2) inches or less in depth or onions tramped into the soil so that they cannot be removed, such areas shall be disked and plowed to a depth of twelve (12) inches or more by March 15^th of each year.

3) Disposal by Composting. Cull onions being composted shall be covered by twelve (12) inches or more of onion-free soil or composting material until the onions have turned into compost. 

4) Disposal of Residue in Onion Producing Fields.

a. Commercial onion fields where sorted bulbs are left at harvest shall be disked and plowed to a depth of twelve (12) or more inches by March 15^th of each year.

b. Following final seed harvest, seed bulbs shall be disked and plowed to a depth of twelve (12) inches or more by March 15^th of each year.

5) Disposal by Chopping or Shredding. Cull onions that have been chopped or shredded to the point that they are incapable of sprouting, shall be disked and plowed to a depth of twelve (12) inches or more by March 15^th of each year.

6) Disposal by Spreading. Cull Onions may be disposed of by being spread on agricultural fields destined to be planted to a crop other than onions provided the onions are disked and plowed to a depth of twelve (12) inches or more.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

If inclement weather prevents disposal by the methods in the sections above, culls shall be treated with an EPA-labeled insecticide at prescribed intervals as recommended by the University of Idaho Agricultural Extension Service until proper disposal as prescribed in 1 through 6 can be carried out.

A copy of the cull onion disposal rules, as well as other ISDA rules, can be obtained from the state of Idaho homepage at:

http://www.state.id.us/adm/adminrules/rules/idapa02/02index.htm. 

Double click on the cull onion disposal rules numerical designation of 02.06.17 and download it to your computer.  You will need a copy of Acrobat 3.0 or better to read it.  See the instructions at the top of that Web page to obtain a free copy of Acrobat.