Markon Cooperative BB #:123315 released this From the Fields report on Salinas Valley soil health September 12, 2024:
California’s Salinas Valley 2024 growing season is winding down.
Historically, it is common to see increased soil disease and plant viruses starting to affect crop quality and yields by late Summer/early Fall, which in turn has our Markon inspectors closely monitoring soil health and quality of iceberg, leaf lettuce, and tender leaf items.
These diseases and plant viruses include but are not limited to Sclerotinia, Fusarium Wilt, Pythium Wilt, and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV).
Last year’s and this year’s Salinas seasons have witnessed far less disease pressure compared to the 2020-2022 seasons, in part due to the past two winters being colder and wetter than years past. The colder temperatures and heaver rainfall, coupled with cooler summer temperatures have kept certain insect populations, which are a vector for certain diseases, in check.
Although we are not seeing anywhere near the amount of disease and plant virus presence that we saw a couple years ago, we are starting to see some fields showing a varying amount of die-off or yield loss. If this trend continues and pushes suppliers to start harvesting their fields earlier than projected, we may start to see supply challenges which will lead to an increase in market activity.
Markon inspectors will continue to monitor and will update on this matter throughout end of the Salinas season.
Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
