News and Stories

Some Salinas Valley lettuce growers are reporting sporadic sightings of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) in their upcoming spring/early summer crops. This news causes concern, as this is the same virus which reduced crop yields and increased prices in late summer/fall 2020. There is no official notice on how many fields have been affected, or even how much the virus may damage supplies this spring or early summer. The attached photos depict plants exhibiting INSV in some Salinas Valley crops set for harvest this upcoming 2021 season.  

The most effective way to eliminate INSV is to control/eradicate thrip insects (the vector for spreading the virus) and eliminate host weeds (plants that thrips feed on until other crops become available) from areas in and around fields growing vegetable crops. Normal winters are cold enough to naturally break the thrip life cycle, but during mild winters, thrip and certain host weeds can survive, allowing the virus to carry over into the spring and summer seasons.

Markon is monitoring this situation very carefully and will update further as needed.
                                                                 
Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
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