Now in its second year, the research project was awarded a $37,000 grant this year, and a $40,000 grant last year from MSU’s Project GREEEN, (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), an organization whose mission is to develop research and educational programs to protect and preserve the quality of the environment.

Michigan has 11,000 acres of asparagus crops — a reduction from 16,000 acres in the state eight years ago, said John Bakker, executive director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. The state, with its sandy soil, is ideal for the crop’s growth, and has been a main producer of the vegetable since the 1900s, he said.

California has 22,500 acres of asparagus farms.

The team is not only faced with the problems of unproductive farm lands, but also crop-infecting diseases and treacherous weed growth in fields, he said.

“We are looking into the use of better soil fumigants that will increase the plant’s vigor, and reduce plant disease such as fusarium and phytophthora,” Ngouajio said.

The research is testing herbicides to kill weeds around the asparagus crops without damaging the health of the asparagus, he said.

“Weeds often become resistant to certain chemical sprays that we use in order to reduce weeds on the farm,” said Bernard Zandstra, an MSU professor of horticulture. “It seems like when we solve one problem another one comes up, making our testing processes very long, but also very productive.”

Members of the research team also include MSU students who travel to the asparagus field on Jolly Road three times a week to pick and analyze the asparagus for any diseases and chemical damage.

“(The work) we do reflects very well on MSU, and it is also a nice experience for me to be involved in a research project like this,” said Kelly Schmiermund, a biosystems engineering sophomore. “It’s nice to know you are doing something good, and be able to work outside at the same time.”

But at least one Michigan farmer said his asparagus crops haven’t been affected by the plant disease and other factors impacting other state asparagus crops. Although, he says his crop still faces challenges such as late-season freezes and frosts, Andy Todosciuk, owner of Andy T’s Farm in St. Johns, said his asparagus has been especially popular this year due to the tenderness of his crop and the pick-your-own popularity of his farm.

Asparagus season runs from late April to mid-June, making this time of year exceptional for asparagus picking at his farm, he said.

“Our asparagus sales seem to be increasing every year,” Todosciuk said. “Although it may be cheaper to buy it imported from other countries, people come here for locally-grown products, and the opportunity to pick it themselves.”

The low costs associated with imported asparagus also contributes to Michigan’s troubles with the crop, Bakker said.

Due to cheap labor available in South American countries like Peru, asparagus can be harvested and produced at a much cheaper cost than it can in Michigan, creating less demand for state-produced asparagus, Bakker said.

“Asparagus is a very labor intensive crop, and is required to be picked by hand,” he said.

“On average Michigan farmers have to pay their workers about $12 per hour to work on asparagus farms, while in Peru that amount of money can supply you with workers for days.”

This is causing Michigan asparagus farmers to receive a profit below the cost of production, and in turn decrease the amount of farms that are able to remain in the industry, Bakker said.

“We need to get some good returns so we can continue harvesting asparagus, and also continue research on it so we can better understand the crop,” said Todd Greiner, a fresh asparagus handler in Michigan. “If people want to continue to buy local asparagus we have to figure something out before it’s too late.”