VHI is a proxy characterizing vegetation health by combining moisture and thermal conditions. If the indices are below 40 indicating different level of vegetation stress, losses of crop and pasture production might be expected; if the indices above 60 (favorable condition) plentiful production might be expected. VH (VHI, VCI, TCI) is very useful for an advanced prediction of crop losses.

• Howard Schwartz - Colorado

  May 14, 2013 - Warm, dry conditions persist and are forecasted for May throughout Colorado, with few reports of any storm damage occurring in onion regions. Onion acreage is down this year due to severe drought in southern region. The seeded and transplanted crops are behind this season due to the cool conditions until this week.

  
  
• Chris Cramer - New Mexico
  

  May 9, 2013 - Temperatures have been cooler than normal for this time of year. It has been 2.5 months since the last rainfall event. Since growing conditions have been ideal, both autumn and spring-sown crops are progressing well. Thrips pressure is low but expected to increase.

  
  
• Dan Drost - Utah
  

  May 13, 2013 - Field conditions have been dry during the last two weeks and growers have begun irrigation to improve soil moisture levels. Plant growth a bit slow due to cool temperatures and dry soils.

  
  
• Lindsey du Toit - Washington
  

  Mary 13, 2013 - A relatively mild winter has resulted in early emergence of seed corn maggots, and much more prevalent and significant damage from maggot in commercial bulb crops than normal. Also, Rhizoctonia stunted patches have been observed in spring-planted bulb crops across the Columbia Basin on sandier soils as a result of overwintered cereal cover crops being larger than normal from mild winter conditions. Planting is completed in the Basin. There have been reports of wind-/sand-blasting injury following some severe windstorms, and herbicide-related injury in several bulb crops.

  
  
• Mary Hasubeck
  

  September 7, 2012 – Temperatures slightly increased to the upper 80s in a northern site and lower 90s in a southern site. A few showers occurred in past two weeks. Remaining crops are going to be harvested very soon. Approximately 15% incidence of plants with thrips was observed. High incidence of pink root showed in most fields monitored. For foliar diseases, incidence of purple blotch and Stemphylium leaf blight have increased since the temperatures cooled down and frequent rain occurred.

  
  
• Krishna Mohan
  

  September 7 2012 - Most of the fields are being lifted/topped/harvested. Dry weather conditions are helping with rapid field curing of topped onions

  
  
• Brian Nault
  

  May 13, 2013. A majority of the onion acreage has been planted and the crop has estabished well so far. Many of the direct-seeded fields have reached the flag leaf stage. Growers have begun using herbicides to kill the barley, which was co-planted with the onion crop. Fields have not yet been scouted for insects or diseases.

  
  

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