September / October 2026

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September / October 2026 POWERED BY JCS MARKETING
Troubleshooting Poor
Nodulation in Legumes:
A Practical Guide
A New Credential for
Organic Crop Advisers
Improving Fumigation
Performance Under
Growing Scrutiny
Soil NOx: Is it the
next air pollution
issue... or not?
Volume 11: Issue 5
Photo courtesy of Project Apis m.

IN THIS ISSUE
2 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 3
POST-HARVEST
POTASSIUM
©2026 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved.
KTS® and Tessenderlo Kerley® are registered trademarks of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
Call: (800) 525-2803 | info@tkinet.com tessenderlokerley.com
100% soluble potassium
and sulfur for efficient
plant uptake.
Apply post-harvest to
support next season’s
early growth.
Liquid applications deliver
nutrients directly to the
root zone.
Agronomist Insight:
Post-Harvest Potassium

IN THIS ISSUE
18
30
40
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Surendra Dara
County Administrator,
University of Hawai̒i, Mānoa
Kevin Day
UCCE Pomology Farm Advisor,
Emeritus, Kings
and Tulare Counties
Elizabeth Fichtner
UCCE Farm Advisor,
Kings and Tulare Counties
Katherine Jarvis-Shean
UCCE Orchard Systems
Advisor, Sacramento,
Solano and Yolo Counties
The articles, research, industry updates, company profiles, and
advertisements in this publication are the professional opinions of
writers and advertisers. Progressive Crop Consultant does not assume
any responsibility for the opinions given in the publication.
Steven Koike
UCCE Plant Pathology Farm
Advisor, Emeritus
Jhalendra Rijal
UCCE Integrated Pest
Management Advisor,
Stanislaus County
Mohammad Yaghmour
UCCE Area Orchard
Systems Advisor,
Kern County
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
PUBLISHER: Jason Scott
Email: jason@jcsmarketinginc.com
EDITOR: Kristin Platts
Email: kristin@jcsmarketinginc.com
PRODUCTION: design@jcsmarketinginc.com
Phone: 559.352.4456
Fax: 559.472.3113
Web: www.progressivecrop.com
Ajay Dhukuchhu
UCCE Stanislaus County
Dr. Matthew Grieshop
Grimm Family Center for
Organic Production at
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Eryn Wingate
Certified Crop Adviser
Executive Board,
Western Region
Gary Osteen
PCA, CCA, Certified
Professional Agronomist
Navneet Kaur
UCCE Stanislaus County
Roger A. Isom
President/CEO Western
Tree Nut Association
Stetcyn Maldonado
Seeds for Bees Manager,
Project Apis m.
Yaritza Castrejon
UCCE Stanislaus County
Zheng Wang
UCCE Stanislaus County
4
8
30
36
40
24
18
14
A Letter From the Publisher:
5 Technologies
Crop Consultants
Should Be Watching
Understanding
Endophytes:
Biology to
Boost Production
The September
PCA Checklist:
Finish the Season
Strong and Defensible
Troubleshooting Poor
Nodulation in Legumes:
A Practical Guide
Improving Fumigation
Performance Under
Growing Scrutiny
A New Credential
for Organic
Crop Advisers
Microbial Biostimulants in
Practice: A Field-Level
Look at Nitrogen
Dynamics in Bok Choy
Soil NOx: Is it the
next air pollution
issue... or not?
2 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 3
POST-HARVEST
POTASSIUM
©2026 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved.
KTS® and Tessenderlo Kerley® are registered trademarks of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
Call: (800) 525-2803 | info@tkinet.com tessenderlokerley.com
100% soluble potassium
and sulfur for efficient
plant uptake.
Apply post-harvest to
support next season’s
early growth.
Liquid applications deliver
nutrients directly to the
root zone.
Agronomist Insight:
Post-Harvest Potassium

By JASON SCOTT | Publisher, Progressive Crop Consultant
5 Technologies
Crop Consultants
Should Be Watching
A letter from thePublisher
E
very year in agriculture, we’re
introduced to another new technology
that’s supposed to change everything.
A new sensor. A new drone. A new soft￾ware platform. A new piece of equipment.
Some of it ends up being incredibly useful,
and some of it ends up being an expen￾sive toy that never really delivers. What’s
different right now is the speed at which
all of this is coming at us. AI, automation,
drones, sensors and precision application
are starting to come together, and I think
crop consultants need to pay attention.
I’m not suggesting every PCA or CCA
needs to become a technology expert.
That’s not the job. But I do think
growers are going to increasingly
look to their crop consultants and
ask a pretty simple question: Is this
technology actually worth my money?
That’s where I see a huge opportunity
for consultants. If you can under￾stand enough about what’s coming
to separate the useful tools from the
hype, you become even more valuable
to your growers.
AI and Better Decision Support
The first technology I’d be watching
closely is artificial intelligence and AI￾powered decision support. AI has the
potential to take weather information,
historical pest pressure, soil and tissue
data, imagery, irrigation information
and previous applications and help
make sense of all of it. Think about how
much information an experienced PCA
or CCA already carries around in their
head. Now imagine combining that
experience with technology capable
of analyzing thousands of additional
data points. I don’t see AI replacing a
great crop consultant. I see a great crop
consultant using AI potentially becom￾ing much better at their job.
Drones, Satellites
& Remote Crop Scouting
The second area is drones, satellites and
remote crop scouting. We’re always going
to need boots in the field, but technology
can help determine where those boots
should go first. Instead of spending hours
covering every acre looking for a problem,
imagery can potentially point you toward
the areas that deserve a closer look. It may
identify changes in crop vigor, irrigation
issues, nutrient deficiencies or possible
pest and disease pressure. The technology
might tell you where something looks
wrong, but an experienced consultant still
has to figure out why.
To me, that’s the sweet spot: technology
helping good people spend their time
where it matters most.
Drones and remote-sensing technology can help identify areas of a field that warrant
closer inspection, while crop consultants provide the field-level expertise needed to
determine the cause (Photo by K. Platts.)
4 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 5

4 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 5
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Smart Irrigation & Plant Soil Sensors
Third is smart irrigation and plant and
soil sensors. This is especially important
in California. Water is too expensive
and too important to manage based on
guesswork. Soil moisture sensors, plant
sensors, weather stations and increas￾ingly AI-driven systems can help growers
and consultants better understand when
to irrigate, how much water to apply and
whether different parts of a field actually
need to be managed differently. But
here’s the key: don’t buy technology just
because it’s impressive. If it doesn’t solve
a real problem or create measurable value
for the grower, I’m not sure we need it.
Precision & Application
Fourth, I’d be paying attention to
precision and variable-rate application.
I think we’re going to continue moving
away from treating every acre exactly
the same. If one section of a field needs
something different than another
section, why wouldn’t we eventually
manage it that way when the economics
make sense? Better mapping, imagery,
soil sampling and real-time sensors
are making that increasingly possible.
Instead of simply asking, “What should
we apply to this field?” the better ques￾tion may become, “What does this part
of the field actually need?”
Automated Pest
& Disease Monitoring
The fifth technology I think PCAs
should be watching closely is automated
pest and disease monitoring. Smart
traps, cameras, weather stations, mobile
scouting tools and predictive models
can give consultants a much more
continuous view of what’s happening
between field visits. Imagine combin￾ing trap counts with weather, degree
days, historical pest pressure and field
imagery and having the system flag
something that deserves your attention.
Again, the technology isn’t making the
recommendation. It’s helping the PCA
know where to look and when to look.
There’s a common thread through all five
of these technologies: more information,
faster information and hopefully better
decisions. That’s why I don’t believe
technology makes the crop consultant
less important. I think it could make
the best crop consultants significantly
more valuable. Growers may soon have
more data than they know what to do
with. Someone still has to understand
the crop, walk the field, ground truth the
information, understand the economics
and ultimately make a recommendation
they’re willing to stand behind. That’s the
role I don’t see going away.
Put the Technology to the Test
So what should you actually do with all
of this? I would start with three things.
First, pick one technology and test it
with one grower. Don’t try to tackle ev￾erything at once. Pick something prac￾tical, whether that’s imagery, automated
trapping, soil moisture monitoring or
an AI tool, and see whether it makes
you better or saves the grower money.
Second, measure ROI instead of being
impressed by the technology. Ask
whether it saved labor, reduced an input,
caught a problem earlier, protected yield,
improved water use or helped make a
better decision. If you can’t point to a
meaningful agronomic or economic
benefit, maybe it’s not ready for your
operation yet.
Third, become your grower’s technology
filter. Spend a little time every month
learning about what’s new. Talk to
researchers, manufacturers and other
consultants. Test things. Ask hard
questions. Your value isn’t going to
come from selling your grower every
new technology that hits the market.
Your value comes from being the trusted
person who can say, “This one is worth
looking at,” or just as importantly, “I
wouldn’t spend your money on that yet.”
I believe the crop consultants who win
over the next decade will still have great
agronomy skills and great relationships.
The difference is they’ll also know how
to use technology to make those skills
even more powerful. And the time to
start figuring that out isn’t five years
from now. It’s today.
Jason Scott
Comments about this article? We want
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at
article@jcsmarketinginc.com
New technologies are giving growers and crop consultants more information from the
field, but their value ultimately depends on whether they improve decisions or deliver a
measurable return (Photo by K. Platts.)
“Your value isn’t going
to come from selling
your grower every new
technology that hits the
market. Your value comes
from being the trusted
person who can say, ‘This
one is worth looking at,’
or just as importantly,
‘I wouldn’t spend your
money on that yet.’”
6 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 7

6 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 7
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Understanding Endophytes:
Biology to Boost Production
By ERYN WINGATE | Certified Crop Adviser Executive Board, Western Region
S
oils contain vast numbers of
microorganisms, including bacteria,
fungi, and archaea. Most have neutral
or positive effects on plant growth, and
some are pathogenic. Only 2% to 5%
of soil microbes are classified as plant
growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).
PGPRs are bacteria that directly benefit
plant health by enhancing growth, stimu￾lating stress defense pathways, and fighting
off pathogens. These species reside pri￾marily in the rhizosphere, the soil directly
covering root surfaces, but some PGPRs,
known as endophytes, live within the plant
itself. Bacterial endophytes colonize plant
tissue, forming a symbiotic relationship
with their host. Their proximity to plants
provides higher potential to enhance crop
health compared with other PGPRs resid￾ing further away from plant cells.
Endophytes are found living within plant
roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and even
in seeds before germination. The plant
provides a safe, hospitable environment
for the bacteria, while the bacteria
provide the plant with nutrients, phy￾tohormones, and pathogen suppression.
Most ag professionals are familiar with
rhizobium, the bacteria that colonize
soybeans and other legumes, forming
distinctive pink nodules in the roots.
Farmers value rhizobium for their ability
to fix atmospheric nitrogen and offset
some of the crop's nitrogen fertilizer
demand. Rhizobium, like other endo￾phytes, also promote growth, enhance
the plant’s stress tolerance, and help ward
off pathogens. Other types of endophytes
include Bacillus species, PaeniBacillus,
Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas,
Burkholderia, and more. Most of these
organisms do not create nodules in plant
roots, so colonization cannot be detected
with the naked eye. Under the micro￾scope, however, we can observe bacteria
colonizing the spaces between plant cells
and sometimes living within plant cells.
Crop Endophytic Bacteria
Alfalfa Bacillus, Erwinia, Microbacterium, Pseudomonas
Banana Azospirillum, Burkholderia, Citrobacter, Herbaspirillum, Klebsiella
Canola Acidovorax, Agrobacterium, Aureobacterium, Bacillus, Chryseobacterium, Cytophaga, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas
Carrot Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Staphylococcus
Cucumber Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Chryseobacterium, Clavibacter, Curtobacterium, Enterobacter, Micrococcus, Paenibacillus,
Phyllobacterium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas
Grapevine Comamonas, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Moraxella, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Rahnella, Rhodococcus, Staphylococcus, Xanthomonas
Maize Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Enterobacter, Erwinia,
Herbaspirillum, Microbacterium Micrococcus, Paenibacillus, Phyllobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Serratia
Potato
Acidovorax, Acinetobacter, Actinomyces, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Capnocytophaga, Chryseobacterium,
Comamonas, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Leuconostoc, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus,
Paenibacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Serratia, Shewanella, Sphingomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Streptomyces,
Vibrio, Xanthomonas
Rice (wild and
cultivated)
Agrobacterium, Azoarcus, Azorhizobium, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia, Chromobacterium, Enterobacter,
Herbaspirillum, Ideonella, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas
Soybean Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Bacillus
Tomato Brevibacillus, Escherichia, Pseudomonas
Wheat Bacillus, Burkholderia, Flavobacterium, Klebsiella, Microbispora, Micrococcus, Micromonospora, Mycobacterium, Nocardioides,
Rathayibacter, Streptomyces
Table Adapted From Afzal et al. 2019
8 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 9

Building Tolerance to
Environmental Stress
Plants colonized with endophytic
bacteria also exhibit greater tolerance
to environmental stress. Soil and water
salinity often limit production, but
endophytic bacteria can help prevent
damage. Endophytic bacteria influ￾ence phytohormone and metabolite
levels to mitigate osmotic pressure by
adjusting the osmolyte concentration
in cellular fluids. These changes help
the plant absorb enough water without
taking up toxic levels of salts. Other
metabolic changes induced by bacteria
help regulate stomatal closure to
conserve water and avoid desiccation
during periods of drought.
Researchers estimate that roughly
300,000 species of plants can host
endophytes. Some endophytes have
adapted to live within specific plant
hosts, but many have a broad host
range and can colonize several types
of important agricultural crops.
Pseudomonas fluorescens, for example,
colonizes tomatoes, alfalfa, canola,
carrots, cotton, and grapevines. Other
types of endophytes have been shown
to enhance growth and crop quality
of wheat, corn, potatoes, radishes, and
more. Several medicinal plants such as
ginseng, ginkgo biloba, coriander, and
lavender also benefit from endophytic
colonization, yielding crops with
higher levels of medicinal compounds.
How Endophytes Support
Plant Growth
Endophytes can promote plant growth
in several ways depending on the type of
endophytic bacteria and environmental
conditions. Some endophytes increase
root and shoot biomass by excreting
indole acetic acid, an important plant
metabolite that regulates growth. Other
endophytes, such as rhizobia and
Serratia species, boost growth by fixing
atmospheric nitrogen to share with
their host. Other types of endophytes
enhance photosynthesis, resulting in
higher carbohydrate production and
increased plant growth. Endophytic col￾onization can also alter root morphol￾ogy, increasing root branching and fine
root hair growth. Robust root systems
increase nutrient and water uptake,
thus increasing growth potential above
their counterparts with smaller or less
efficient root systems.
“Other endophytes enhance photosynthesis,
resulting in higher carbohydrate production
and increased plant growth.”
8 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 9
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Endophytes induce similar physiolog￾ical adaptations to protect plants from
extreme heat or freeze spells.
Nutrient Availability and Uptake
Endophytic bacteria can also help mit￾igate plant stress symptoms caused by
nutrient deficiency. Some endophytes
produce nutrient-solubilizing and che￾lating agents, significantly increasing
phosphorus and iron bioavailability
and absorption. Most agricultural
soils contain plenty of phosphorus,
but most of it is found in insoluble
forms. Endophytes can secrete
acidifying agents and complexing
agents to dissolve mineral phosphate,
bind it, and deliver it to the plant
in a bioavailable form. Phosphate
solubilization is a common function
among endophytes, with 59 to 100% of
endophytic bacteria found in cactus,
strawberry, sunflower, and soybeans
exhibiting the trait. Similarly, many
endophytes produce iron chelating
Role of beneficial bacteria Host Plant Endophytic bacteria Effect(s)
Plant growth promotion Ginseng Micrococcus luteus and Lysiniba￾cillus fusiformis Enhanced seedling biomass
Lavender Variovorax sp. Increased adventitious root formation
and the rooting capacity of cuttings
Coriander Bacillus siamensis Increased root length, shoot length,
and dry weight
Enhanced plant resistance
to phytopathogens Turmeric Bacillus sp. Induced host disease resistance
Ginseng Stenotrophomonas maltophil￾ia and Bacillus sp. Suppressed pathogen mycelial growth
Ginkgo biloba Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Produced antibiotics and induced
systemic resistance
Improved plant abiotic stress tolerance Madagascar Periwinkle Achromobacter xylosoxidans Increased germination percentage and root
weight under saline conditions
Coat buttons
or tridax daisy Paenibacillus sp. Relieved plant heavy metal stress
Ladder brake
or Chinese brake fern
Agrobacterium spp. and Bacil￾lus spp. Reduced arsenate to arsenite
Crown-of-thorns Citrobacter putida Removed airborne benzene
Promotion of plant metabolites accumulation Bai Zhu Pseudomonas fluorescens Increased production of sesquiterpenoids
Ginseng Paenibacillus polymyxa Induced production of ginsenoside
Sweet wormwood Pseudonocardia sp. Increased artemisinin content
Table Adapted From Wu et al., 2021
agents called siderophores. Iron has
very low solubility, and most soil iron
is bound in mineral complexes with
carbonates, hydroxides, oxides, and
phosphates. Endophytes produce
siderophores that bind to insoluble
ferric (Fe3) ions, allowing the plant
to absorb iron that would otherwise
remain inaccessible. Siderophore
production has been shown to support
iron nutrition and growth of tomatoes,
corn, and other crops.
Suppressing Pests and Disease
Endophytic bacteria not only
promote crop growth, but they also
suppress pests and disease. While sid￾erophore production feeds plant hosts,
it can also help fight off soilborne
pathogens. Some types of siderophores
bind iron in a form that is accessible
to plants, but unavailable to certain
disease organisms. Pathogens that
lack the enzymes necessary to metab￾olize the siderophores become iron
deficient, causing their population
growth to slow or even crash. Thus,
the endophytes are supporting crop
growth both by increasing plant
nutrient uptake and by starving out
disease agents.
“Biological
products have
one important
characteristic in
common: They
all seek to stimulate
beneficial microbial
activity to enhance
crop health.”
10 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 11

Beneficial Role Endophytic Bacteria
Nitrogen fixation Pseudomonas spp., Herbiconiux solani SS3, Flavobacterium aquidurense SN2r, Rhizobium
herbae SR2r., Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2R, Pseudomonas protegens CHA0-retS-nif
Phosphorus solubilization
Pseudomonas spp. Burkholderia spp, Paraburkhoderia, Novosphingobium, Ochrobactrum,
Paenibacillus polymyxa, Bacillus sp., Rahnella Pantoea vagans MZ519966, Pantoea agglomer￾ans MZ519970, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KUPSB12
Potassium solubilization Paenibacillus polymyxa, Bacillus sp., Burkholderia sp. FDN2-1, Alcaligenes spp., Enterobacter spp.
Zinc solubilization Bacillus spp., Arthrobacter sp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp.
Hormones (indole-3-acetic acid jasmonic acid,
salicylic acid, gibberellins, ethylene)
Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RWL-1; Bacillus sp. PVL1, Bacillus sp.
DLMB, Bacillus sp. MBL_B17, Bacillus subtilis MBL_B13, Leifsonia xyli SE134, Bacillus subtilis LK14,
Siderophores and competition for nutrition and
space
Bradyrhizobium sp.(vigna), Pseudomonas tolaasii ACC23, Mycobacterium ACC14 Pseudomonas
fluorescens G10, Mycobacterium sp. G16, Methylobacterium spp., Xanthomonas spp.
Induced Systemic Resistance Parabukholderia sp. Pseudomonas sp, Burkhoderia phytofirman PsJN
Lytic Enzymes (chitinases, proteases, cellulases,
hemicellulases, 1, 3-glucanases; pectinases)
Serratia proteamaculans 33x, Bacillus pumilis JK-SX001, Paenibacillus polymyxa GS20, Bacil￾lus sp. GS07
Antibiotics (Bacillomycin 2,4-diacetylphloroglu￾cinol, fengycin, cyclic lipopeptides (surfactin,
iturin), and pyocyanin) Bacillus subtilis fmbj, Bacillus subtilis CPA-8, Bacillus subtilis AU195
Volatile Organic Compounds (2,3-butanedi￾ol, acetoin, 2-Hexanone, sulfur-containing
compounds, 2-Heptonone, 3-methybutan-1-ol,
Dodacanal, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and 2-meth￾ylbutanoic acid, 3-Methylbutan-1-ol)
Bacillus amylolicefaciens ALB629 and UFLA285, Enterobacter TR1, Bacillus spp. Bacillus Velen￾zensis 5YN8, Bacillus Velenzensis DSN012
Table Adapted From Medison et al., 2022
10 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 11

Endophytic bacteria can also suppress
pathogens by producing antibiotics,
enzymes, and other compounds that
fight off both fungal and bacterial
disease. Successful fungal pathogen
suppression has been shown in multi￾ple crops including wheat, potato, and
black pepper. Endophytes produce
the enzymes chitinase, proteases, and
gluconases that break down fungal cell
walls, killing the pathogens. Bacillus
subtilis, Pantoea vagans, and other
endophytes display effective bacterial
pathogen suppression, although the
mechanisms involved are not as clearly
understood. Other endophytes have
been shown to suppress pathogenic
nematodes and insect pests such as
sugarcane borer larvae. Endophytic
antibiotic production offers a powerful
crop protection tool, but endophytes
also help crops protect themselves by
inducing systemic resistance to pests
and pathogens. Endophytic bacteria
modulate the plant’s gene expression
to build stronger cell walls and pro￾duce their own antibiotic compounds
to suppress pathogenic growth.
Endophytic bacteria including Bacillus,
Pseudomonas, and Serratia species have
all demonstrated pathogen suppression
by initiating induced systemic resis￾tance in their plant hosts.
Evaluating Biological
Products in the Field
Research shows that many major crops
benefit from bacterial endophyte
colonization, but applying the knowl￾edge in the field remains challenging.
Growers and crop consultants see an
endless train of new biological products
on offer. Each new formulation claims
to stimulate growth, reduce crop stress,
and suppress pathogens. How do we
differentiate between these products?
How do we know which products
work, when the effects are so difficult to
measure? Biological products have one
important characteristic in common:
They all seek to stimulate beneficial
microbial activity to enhance crop
health. Search the scientific literature to
find research on the bacterial species in
the products you consider. For example,
a paper published in Frontiers, an open
access journal, shows improved growth
and increased chlorophyll production
in lentils inoculated with two different
types of endophytes (see figure at left).
Many biological manufacturers conduct
extensive product testing and will share
similar study reports upon request.
Look for products with quantified field￾test results across multiple crops and
locations and test the product in your
own split-block trial before implement￾ing it at a larger scale.
Ongoing work will help elucidate the
most effective ways to manage beneficial
bacterial endophytes in agriculture.
Efficacy depends on the compatibility
between the crop and type of endophytic
bacteria. Environmental factors such
as soil type, fertility, and climate also
affect endophytic activity, and should
be taken into consideration when
determining field management practices
and biological application strategies. For
example, supplementing your fertilizer
program with liquid organic materials
can help promote beneficial bacterial
growth in soils, improving inoculation
efficacy. There are already many bacterial
products and soil amendments on the
market developed for a wide range of
crops and soil types. Although more
research would be helpful, many of these
biologicals are worth trying now. Consult
with your Certified Crop Adviser to learn
more about soil health and the manage￾ment practices that promote beneficial
bacterial growth. CCAs can help you
select the products, application methods,
and other protocols to improve product
efficacy and maximize production.
Sources:
Imran Afzal, Zabta Khan Shinwari,
Shomaila Sikandar, Shaheen Shahzad,
Plant beneficial endophytic bacteria:
Mechanisms, diversity, host range and
genetic determinants, Microbiological
Research, Volume 221, 2019, Pages
36-49, ISSN 0944-5013,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
micres.2019.02.001.
(https://www.sciencedi￾rect.com/science/article/pii/
S0944501318304592)
Endophytic Bacterial Inoculants Promote Growth of Lentil Plants
Effect of bacterial treatment on (A) root and shoot length of the plant, (B) chlorophyll
content of the leaves of all the treated plants, (C) leaf relative water content, (D) growth of
lentil plants with uninoculated control, S. plymuthica 33GS and Serratia sp. R6. Values bearing
different signs (*, **, ***) differ significantly (P ≤ 0.05). (Source: Debnath et al., 2023.)
12 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 13

PUBLISHER’S TAKE
The Big Picture:
What to do Next
Debnath S, Chakraborty
S, Langthasa M, Choure K,
Agnihotri V, Srivastava A, Rai
PK, Tilwari A, Maheshwari DK
and Pandey P (2023) Non￾rhizobial nodule endophytes
improve nodulation, change
root exudation pattern and
promote the growth of lentil,
for prospective application
in fallow soil. Front. Plant
Sci. 14:1152875. doi: 10.3389/
fpls.2023.1152875
Hallmann, J., Quadt-Hallmann,
A., Mahaffee, W., Kloepper,
J., 1997. Bacterial endophytes
in agricultural crops. Can. J.
Microbiol. 43, 895–914.
Rosenblueth, M., Martínez￾Romero, E., 2006. Bacterial en￾dophytes and their interactions
with hosts. Mol. Plant Microbe
Interact. 19, 827–837.
Miliute, I., Buzaite, O.,
Baniulis, D., Stanys, V., 2015.
Bacterial endophytes in agri￾cultural crops and their role
in stress tolerance: a review.
Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 102,
465–478.
Medison RG, Tan L, Medison
MB, Chiwina KE. Use of
beneficial bacterial endo￾phytes: A practical strategy to
achieve sustainable agricul￾ture. AIMS Microbiol. 2022
Dec 27;8(4):624-643. doi:
10.3934/microbiol.2022040.
PMID: 36694581; PMCID:
PMC9834078.
Comments about this article?
We want to hear from you.
Feel free to email us at article
@jcsmarketinginc.com
➊ Know what is in the product.
Look at the bacterial species included in biological
products and review available research on how
those organisms perform.
➋ Match biology to field conditions
Crop compatibility, soil type, fertility and climate can
all affect endophyte activity and product efficacy.
➌ Look beyond the product claims
Ask for quantified field-test results across multiple
crops and locations before making recommendations.
➍ Test before going all in
Use a split-block trial to evaluate a biological
product under your own field conditions before
expanding its use.
➎ Consider the whole production system
Management practices that support beneficial
bacterial growth can influence how well an inocu￾lant or biological product performs.
12 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 13

The September PCA Checklist:
Finish the Season Strong and Defensible
Late-season fieldwork is where strong consultants separate
themselves by documenting sensitive sites, tightening
application windows, evaluating outcomes and turning
the season’s evidence into a better plan for the grower.
By GARY OSTEEN | PCA, CCA, Certified Professional Agronomist
Harvest may signal the end of the growing season, but it also gives PCAs and CCAs an opportunity to evaluate field conditions, document
outcomes and identify issues that should shape next season’s management decisions (All photos courtesy JCS Marketing archives.)
14 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 15

S
eptember can feel like the point
when we, as PCAs and CCAs, can
finally begin to exhale. Harvest is
underway, many in-season pest de￾cisions have already been made and
the urgency of spring and summer is
starting to ease. But after 45 years in
the field, I can tell you this is exactly
when we must resist the temptation to
mentally close the season.
Just because it is the end of the
season does not mean you are done.
You still have to be out there.
For consultants, the September field
visit is not just a final check. It is
an opportunity to identify weak
areas, document the reasons behind
an outcome, reduce regulatory
exposure and demonstrate value
that goes well beyond writing a
pesticide recommendation.
Keep Walking the Field
The first item on my September check￾list is simple: continue evaluating the
orchard. Look for weak areas, uneven
growth, early defoliation, pest injury,
irrigation problems and sites that
deserve follow-up. Determine whether
trees are recovering appropriately
after harvest and whether the nutrient
program needs a timely adjustment
before dormancy.
Late-season scouting also establishes
the starting point for dormant and
next-season decisions. Scale pressure
may be less widespread than it was
10 or 15 years ago, but that does not
mean we can stop looking. The same
principle applies to vertebrate pests.
I have seen voles damage the trunks
of young trees in November and
December because an orchard was
treated as though the work had ended.
We should also record where a
monitoring program failed to predict
harvest damage. Green stink bug was
a particularly difficult example for me
this year. We found damage at harvest
even in orchards that had been treated.
That tells me we need to compare
monitoring, timing, application and
final crop outcomes rather than
evaluating any one piece in isolation.
Make Every
Recommendation Defensible
Regulatory documentation deserves
renewed attention before we
issue late-season and postharvest
recommendations. We must track
label changes, but I believe one of our
greatest areas of exposure is how we
identify and address sensitive sites.
A general statement such as “do
not allow drift” may not be enough.
The recommendation should
identify the specific sensitive
sites and demonstrate that the
consultant considered the conditions
surrounding the application. DPR
and county regulators may review not
only the applicator’s actions but also
the PCA’s written recommendation.
A weak recommendation can create
liability for everyone involved.
Timing language should be equally
precise. A recommendation with
an application window stretching
months or even a full year does not
communicate when the treatment
is most likely to work. If biological
timing allows only a few days, the
written recommendation should say
so. A narrow, agronomically justified
window helps the grower execute
correctly and provides a clearer record
if the result is later questioned.
When a Treatment Misses,
Investigate the Whole Chain
A treatment that did not produce
the expected result should trigger an
investigation, not an assumption. Was
the application made on the date recom￾mended? Did the grower delay it? Was
the product applied at the correct rate
and to the correct target? Were coverage,
equipment setup and environmental
conditions appropriate? Was the original
recommendation issued early enough?
As PCAs, we have to evaluate
application practices in the field.
The written recommendation is
only one link in the chain. By
reviewing how and when it was
executed, we can distinguish among
a timing failure, an application
problem, unusual pest pressure
and an incorrect recommendation.
That discipline improves future
performance and creates a more
credible conversation with the client.
Turn the Year’s Evidence Into
a Client Strategy Session
September is also an ideal time for
a broader business conversation.
I recommend sitting down with
the grower to review the entire
program: tissue analyses, fertilizer
inputs, pest management, herbicides,
irrigation and harvest damage.
Ask three direct questions: What
worked? What did not? What
should change before next season?
For CCAs, fertility planning is an
obvious place to lead. For PCAs,
the opportunity is to connect pest
recommendations with the crop’s
overall condition and the grower’s
operating priorities. The consultant
who brings together field observations,
grade sheets, tissue results and
application records is no longer
perceived as someone who only writes
recommendations. That consultant
becomes a strategic partner.
The discussion should end with a
short list of decisions, not a stack
of undigested data. Identify the
blocks needing deeper investigation.
Mark the applications that require
different timing. Document
sensitive sites more explicitly.
Schedule the soil, water or tissue
The field does not stop producing
information when harvest begins.
14 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 15

testing required to answer unresolved questions.
Agree on the postharvest actions that cannot wait.
A Strong Finish Protects Next Year
The best September work is both agronomic and profes￾sional. It protects tree health, improves the next recom￾mendation and strengthens the documentation supporting
the consultant’s judgment. It also gives the grower some￾thing increasingly valuable: a clear explanation of what
happened and what the operation should do next.
To every young consultant entering this profession,
remember this lesson: the field does not stop producing
information when harvest begins. Problems continue
to develop, and the evidence needed to improve next
season may be visible for only a short time. Stay in
the orchard, sharpen the record and finish the year
with the same discipline you used to begin it.
When a Second Perspective Can Help
Growers should not hesitate to ask difficult follow-up
questions about their crop program. Does the written rec￾ommendation clearly identify sensitive sites and the correct
application window? If a treatment missed, was the cause
timing, coverage, execution, unusual pest pressure or the
original recommendation? What does the harvest damage
tell us that our in-season monitoring did not?
If you are a grower who wants a second independent
perspective, or a PCA or CCA working through a difficult
result, I welcome the opportunity to talk. Call me while
the records and field conditions are still available. My
goal is not to second-guess anyone. It is to help ask
the right questions, strengthen the documentation
Comments about this article? We want to hear from you.
Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com
➊ Keep scouting after harvest begins
Late-season field conditions can reveal weak areas,
pest injury, irrigation problems and other issues that
should shape postharvest and next-season decisions.
➋ Make recommendations defensible
Identify sensitive sites specifically and use application
windows that reflect biological timing rather than
unnecessarily broad date ranges.
➌ Investigate treatment failures
When a treatment misses, review the entire chain,
including recommendation timing, application date,
rate, coverage, equipment, environmental conditions
and pest pressure.
➍ Connect field observations with the records
Bring together monitoring results, application records,
tissue analyses, grade sheets and harvest damage to
understand what happened.
➎ Leave the grower with a plan
Finish the season by identifying problem blocks, need￾ed testing, timing changes and postharvest actions
that should carry into next year.
PUBLISHER’S TAKE
The Big Picture: What to do Next
Harvest results can help consultants identify problems, evaluate the season’s management program and guide decisions for the year ahead.
and make the next recommendation more precise,
defensible and useful to the farming operation.
16 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 17

16 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 17
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By STETCYN MALDONADO | Seeds for Bees Manager, Project Apis m.
Troubleshooting Poor
Nodulation in Legumes:
A Practical Guide
Nodules are visible along the root system of a fava bean. Examining the number, location and condition
of nodules can help assess whether a legume is successfully nodulating. All photos courtesy Project Apis m.
18 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 19

wrong. Whether your legumes look
healthy or not, it is always important
to assess their performance. Start your
assessment by carefully digging up the
whole root system to about one foot.
Do not pull up the plant, as roots and
nodules can break off. Gently wash
the roots and examine the system,
noting the presence, condition and
location of nodules.
Healthy nodulation is demonstrated
by plants having 20 or more nodules,
mostly on the primary roots and
many secondary roots. The nodules
should range from 2 to 5 mm in
diameter, be firm, white or tan on the
outside and pink or red on the inside.
Poor or failed nodulation can present
in a number of ways: failure to
form nodules, poor establishment
with fewer than five nodules
per plant, white or green nodule
interiors, mushy or rotten nodules,
and nodules only on the taproot.
When Nodules Fail to Form
Possible causes of no nodulation include
no or low populations of rhizobia
bacteria present in the soil, in which
case legume seed should be inoculated
with the correct species before planting.
Reasons for low levels of bacteria include
fumigation, high temperatures, drought
conditions and/or long periods of time
A shovel, a soil
test kit and a few
pink nodules from
a healthy plant
are your best
diagnostic tools.
❞ L
egumes, plants from the bean
family, are known for their ability to
add nitrogen to the soil. This makes
them a popular choice in cover cropping,
supplying both nitrogen for the cash
crop and potentially reducing fertil￾izer needs. Depending on the species,
legumes can provide a wide range of
nitrogen fixation rates.
For example, a pure stand of red
clover can fix 40 to 60 pounds per
acre, while hairy vetch can fix 90 to
200 pounds per acre. With imported
fertilizer costs on the rise, in-field
nitrogen fixation is becoming of
greater interest. However, unlike
commercial products, the amount of
nitrogen fixed can vary significantly.
Assessing Nodulation in the Field
In this article, we will focus on root
nodulation, the plant organ directly
involved in nitrogen fixation, and
what it means when this process goes
18 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 19

with no host plants in the soil. As a gen￾eral rule of thumb, if there hasn’t been
a legume planted in the soil for several
years, seed inoculation is recommended.
If the seed had been inoculated but
there are no nodules present, then the
inoculant may have died. This could be
caused by heat, direct sunlight, mixing
inoculant with tap water that contained
chlorine, or the inoculant expiring in
storage or being improperly stored.
Another possibility is that the wrong
rhizobia strain was used. For example,
Rhizobium leguminosarum is used for
peas and vetch and Bradyrhizobium
japonicum for soybean.
This same issue can arise if the soil
was sterilized or fumigated. Recent
fumigation may have killed off the
soil biology and can potentially kill
inoculation material on the seed coat.
In this case, it is recommended to wait
the prescribed period after fumigation
before planting. Seed inoculation
should be recommended in post￾fumigation soils, as the previous
rhizobia population was likely killed.
Troubleshooting Poor Nodulation
For problem-solving when there are few
or scattered nodules, you will need to
take a soil test or reference a previous one.
High nitrogen levels could be a
cause. For legumes, maintaining
rhizobia bacteria and fixing
nitrogen is a costly process. If
abundant nitrogen is present, the
legume won’t form nodules. In this
situation, a legume cover crop may
not increase nitrogen levels further.
Low soil pH could also be a factor.
Rhizobia are pH-sensitive, preferring
a pH of 6 to 7. Below 5.5, nodulation
can fail. Recommending a lime
application with a target pH of 6.5
is ideal in this situation. However,
check the preferred pH level of the
cash crop. Increasing pH in acid￾A field pea root system shows nodules along the roots. Carefully digging rather than pulling
plants helps preserve roots and nodules for evaluation (All photos courtesy Project Apis m.)
loving blueberries will cause economic
harm, while some other cash crops,
like alfalfa, prefer a pH of 6.8 to 7.
Compaction can also cause few
nodules. Compacted soil restricts
root growth, which reduces plant
performance. Tilling or using cover
crops with deep taproots can help break
up compaction. It is advisable to avoid
using heavy equipment on wet soils.
The final potential cause of limited
nodulation is poor seed-to-soil
contact. In this instance, very little of
the inoculant may have reached the
roots. In this case, ensure thorough
inoculation and a firm seedbed, and
incorporate the seed after planting.
When Nodules Form but Aren’t
Functioning Properly
There are four possible causes of issues
when nodules are present but are white
or green. Each of these issues involves
conditions that cause plant stress.
20 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 21

20 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 21
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before assuming this is the cause. If
levels are low, a foliar molybdenum
spray could help midseason.
Aluminum toxicity is the final
potential cause of this section.
This can be an issue in acidic soils
where aluminum can damage root
tips. Depending on the aluminum
levels in the soil, suggesting a lime
application to raise the pH may help.
In summary, most nodulation failures
trace back to three things: wrong or
dead inoculant, low soil pH or excess
nitrogen. A shovel, a soil test kit and
a few pink nodules from a healthy
plant are your best diagnostic tools.
If you are interested in learning more
about cover crops and what they can
do for you, Seeds for Bees offers a
number of educational videos through
Project Apis m.’s YouTube channel,
including a webinar on estimating
the total nitrogen content of cover
crops: Seeds for Bees® How do Cover
Crops Fix Nitrogen and How Much?
A fava bean nodule cut open reveals the pink interior associated with active nitrogen fixation.
The color comes from leghemoglobin within the nodule (Photo courtesy Project Apis m.)
If soils have been soggy for a prolonged
period or are waterlogged, the
microbes responsible for nitrogen
fixation were starved of oxygen.
Oxygen is a critical component of the
nitrogen-fixing process. When there
is little oxygen, leghemoglobin, the
component responsible for the red
color in nodules, breaks down. It is
best to advise against planting legumes
in frequently waterlogged areas.
Opposite of waterlogging is drought
stress. Nodules are highly sensitive
to dry conditions and may reduce
activity during periods of prolonged
water stress. Should dry conditions be
an issue, irrigate if possible. Choosing
drought-tolerant legume varieties can
also help, like the common vetch found
in Seeds for Bees’ Nitrobuilder blend.
Extreme temperatures, generally above
95 degrees F or below 50 degrees F, can
affect plant stress and root growth. It is
prudent to adjust the planting date so
that the legumes can get the best start
or avoid particularly difficult weather.
The final cause is herbicide carryover.
Some soil-residual herbicides can inhibit
nodulation. It is important to read labels
thoroughly, follow rotation intervals
and be aware that herbicide residues
can affect cover crop performance.
The last scenario for this article is
when nodules are present but are
small or only located on the taproot.
There are three common causes of this.
➊ Dig, don’t pull
Carefully excavate the root system so nodules aren’t lost before evaluating their
number, location, size and color.
➋ Consider inoculation history
Low rhizobia populations, an incorrect strain or inoculant damaged by storage, heat
or other conditions can contribute to nodulation failure.
➌ Check soil conditions before making a recommendation
High nitrogen, low pH, compaction and nutrient deficiencies can all affect nodulation.
➍ Don’t overlook water and weather stress
Waterlogging, drought and extreme temperatures can reduce nodule activity even
when nodules are present.
➎ Review pesticide history
Fumigation can affect rhizobia populations, while residual herbicides can interfere
with nodulation and cover crop performance.
PUBLISHER’S TAKE
The Big Picture: What to do Next
Comments about this article? We want
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at
article@jcsmarketinginc.com
The first is late inoculation, meaning
the plant was colonized late in the
growing season and not at the onset
of germination. This could be a case
of uninoculated seed that didn’t come
into contact with rhizobia until later.
The solution for this is to have the
seed inoculated before planting.
Low phosphorus, sulfur, potassium or
molybdenum could also be a cause. These
plant nutrients are essential for nodule
formation and nitrogenase activity. This
can be remedied by applying fertilizer
that contains the missing nutrients.
However, a soil sample should be taken
22 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 23

22 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 23
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Improving Fumigation
Performance Under
Growing Scrutiny
By KRISTIN PLATTS | Editor
“Fumigation is under the microscope.”
That’s how Roger Isom, president and CEO of the
Western Tree Nut Association (WTNA), describes the
current regulatory environment surrounding fumigation in
California agriculture.
“The regulatory agencies, whether it’s Department of Pesticide
Regulation, Air Resources or local air districts, EPA, there is
a lot of attention being paid to fumigation,” Isom said. “And
unfortunately for us, it’s a necessary part of the business.
People aren’t going to buy our product if they find bugs in it.”
That increased scrutiny can have practical
consequences for fumigation.
“We have permits being held up. We have situations
where we can't perform a fumigation because we’re up
against some regulatory limit,” Isom said. “We’ve got
to be in front of that. We can't be at a point where I’ve
got product sitting there and I can’t fumigate it.”
The pressure extends across several types of
fumigation. Growers continue to deal with rodents
in the field, while soil fumigation remains under
scrutiny, particularly the use of 1,3-D. Postharvest and
structural fumigation are also critical for controlling
pests such as red flour beetle and Indian meal moth.
Export requirements also affect fumigation decisions for tree nuts.
“We export 70% of our tree nuts, and it’s hard to argue
with somebody that said they opened up the container in
Fumigation products on
display during a Western Tree
Nut Association fumigation summit. As fumigation faces
increased regulatory scrutiny, industry representatives
say proper application, monitoring and compliance will
remain critical to keeping fumigation tools available.
(Photo by K. Platts)
Fumigation remains an important pest management tool as California agriculture faces
increasing regulatory, safety and performance considerations (Photo by K. Platts.)
24 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 25

Europe and said, ‘Hey, it’s infested,’” Isom said. “What are
we going to do? So we’ve got to control it on the front end.”
In some cases, importing countries also require specific
fumigation treatments to prevent pests present in
the U.S. from entering their countries, he noted.
Isom and other industry and regulatory speakers discussed
these challenges during a fumigation summit hosted by
WTNA in July. The event brought fumigation professionals,
regulators and industry members together to discuss
regulatory requirements, worker safety, compliance, new
technology and ways to improve fumigation performance.
Getting the Treatment Right
For John Mueller, owner of The Fumigation Company, improving
fumigation performance starts with treating an application
as a scientific process rather than simply completing a task.
“Fumigants were born from pretty deep science, and many
times applicators treat fumigants as really just tactical tasks
when we really have to take that science and move it forward
in our applications,” Mueller said. “If we ignore what’s
needed for these tools to be effective, then that's when we fall
off on them.”
Mueller said several factors determine whether a
treatment is successful, including identifying the correct
pest, reaching an effective fumigant concentration,
accounting for temperature and maintaining the
necessary gas concentration for enough time.
Data can help applicators determine
whether those conditions were met.
“We’re analyzing temperature, concentration, and
we’re turning that around and critically reviewing that
and making sure that our specifications are where
they need to be to be most effective,” he said.
One of the most common problems Mueller sees is
pest misidentification. Certain pests are more difficult
to kill than others, making accurate identification
important when determining treatment requirements.
Temperature measurements can also create problems
when they don’t represent the conditions most likely to
affect treatment performance. Mueller said applicators
sometimes take a convenient temperature measurement
rather than identifying the lowest temperature present
during a treatment.
24 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 25
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“That’s what determines, that’s where your
failure is going to be at,” he said.
Reviewing those variables becomes particularly important
when a treatment does not produce the expected result.
“Be scientifically curious,” Mueller said. “Really
start to ask a lot of questions. Why?”
Rather than simply moving on from an unsuccessful
treatment, he recommends reviewing the available
information and looking for the conditions
that may have contributed to the problem.
“If you don’t like the results, sit down with all the information
you have and start to plot that to try to understand why
there was a challenge with that treatment,” he said.
More Pressure to Prove Performance
The ability to document treatment performance is also
becoming more important, according to Mueller. He
said foreign departments of agriculture are beginning
to use artificial intelligence to review fumigation
documentation and question treatment results,
increasing the need for verification and validation.
“It’s driving verification and validation techniques like
connected devices and really putting a lot of pressure on the
fumigator to prove that they’ve been effective,” Mueller said.
“And that’s not going to stop. That's going to get more intense.”
Mueller said connected gas-monitoring devices are one tool
being used to document gas concentrations and determine
whether treatments reach expected efficacy levels.
Mueller said fumigant prices have risen significantly,
putting additional pressure on fumigators to
demonstrate that growers and processors are
receiving value from each treatment.
“When spending goes up, commodity processors,
commodity growers, they want to make sure they’re
getting value for the dollars,” he said. “Sometimes
you have to lean into technology to drive that.”
Compliance Starts With the Basics
Some of the compliance issues county agricultural
officials encounter are much more basic.
Melanie Pellegrino, supervising agricultural inspector for the
Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, said
paperwork and worker protection requirements are among the
common fumigation-related compliance issues her office sees.
That includes maintaining written respiratory protection
programs, completing annual fit testing and making
sure employee medical evaluations remain current.
“Always a reminder just to check medical records, that
sometimes there's limitations and expirations to those, and
making sure those are current as well,” Pellegrino said.
Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner Linda
Pinfold said field applications of aluminum phosphide
present another area where applicators need to pay
close attention to worker protection requirements.
“A common issue that we have come across has been not
having the personal protective equipment, specifically
phosphine monitors when using that equipment, when
applying aluminum phosphide in the field,” Pinfold said.
Pellegrino said applicators also need to consider
where fumigation and other pesticide applications
are taking place. Public concern around pesticide
use is another consideration, particularly near
schools, children and other sensitive areas.
She recommended paying close attention to
applications near sensitive sites and public roadways
and considering additional planning when there is
a greater chance of interaction with the public.
“Maybe have flaggers, look at schedules and timing, and
communicate better in those areas,” Pellegrino said.
Odor complaints are another common reason the
agricultural commissioner's office hears from the public,
Pinfold said. In many cases, people want to understand
what they are smelling and what is happening nearby.
“A lot of times getting that level of communication really does
go a long way,” she said.
John Mueller, owner of The Fumigation Company, discusses
fumigation performance during a Western Tree Nut Association
fumigation summit in Modesto. Mueller said pest identification,
temperature, concentration and exposure time can all affect
treatment efficacy (Photo by K. Platts.)
26 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 27

26 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 27

➊ Stay ahead of regulatory requirements
Fumigation is receiving increased regulatory
attention, making it important to keep current on
requirements before an application is planned.
➋ Get the fundamentals right
Pest identification, temperature, fumigant
concentration and exposure time can all determine
whether a treatment succeeds.
➌ Document treatment performance
Monitoring and connected devices can help verify that effec￾tive fumigant concentrations were reached and maintained.
➍ Don't overlook basic compliance
Respiratory protection programs, fit testing, current
medical evaluations and required PPE remain common
areas of concern.
➎ Ask questions before there is a problem
County agricultural commissioners can be a resource for
interpreting requirements and addressing compliance
questions before an application.
PUBLISHER’S TAKE
The Big Picture: What to do Next
Compliance and Keeping Tools Available
Pinfold said the role of the agricultural commissioner’s
office goes beyond issuing violations. She compared the
office’s enforcement role to that of a referee, making
sure pesticide rules are followed so the products
agriculture depends on can continue to be used.
“Pesticides are an incredibly important tool, not just
for production agriculture, but for human health and
safety,” she said. “It’s important that we do our job
helping to make sure that everybody's following those
rules, so that way those tools remain available.”
Pellegrino said the loss of pesticide products can also create
other pest management challenges. As the number of
available insecticides declines, growers and applicators can
become increasingly dependent on the products that remain.
“The alternative is now your toolbox is so limited, and
that is not necessarily a better thing,” she said.
Pinfold pointed to resistance management as one consequence.
“Less tools means you use the same materials over and over
again, which means you develop resistance,” she said.
For applicators unsure about a requirement, both
encouraged reaching out to the local agricultural
commissioner's office before a compliance issue develops.
“The folks that are reaching out to us regularly and
seeking advice and trying to stay up on the regulations
are the ones that are being very successful and
having less compliance issues,” Pellegrino said.
More Scrutiny Ahead
Isom expects regulatory attention
surrounding fumigation to continue.
He said DPR has indicated commodity fumigation will
receive closer examination after work involving structural
and soil fumigation. Commodity fumigation itself
encompasses a range of practices, including stockpile,
bin, tarp-static, container and truck fumigation.
“All those things need looked at very closely to make sure, are
we doing it right? Are we doing it safe? Is that the best way we
can do it?” Isom said.
Soil fumigation will remain part of the discussion as well.
Isom said DPR continues to examine 1,3-D use and that the
industry needs to continue studying potential alternatives.
“They don't have any cost-effective alternatives to 1,3-D,” he said.
“But that's not going to stop them from continuing to look.”
Isom said the industry also needs to continue studying
alternatives and evaluating whether there are more
effective or economical ways to fumigate. Cost will remain
part of that equation as growers contend with higher
expenses for fertilizer, pesticides, labor and other inputs.
“Is there a cheaper way to do this that's still effective?” he
said. “Those are the best solutions, the ones that can
save money. They just don't come along very often.”
For Isom, preparing for the changes ahead comes down
to keeping up with both regulation and technology.
“Make sure you’re up to speed on all the regulations,”
he said. “Make sure you're up to speed on what
are all the new technologies. Stay informed.”
For Pellegrino and Pinfold, that also means using regulators
as a resource before questions become problems.
“If you’ve got a question, use us,” Pinfold said. “We’ll
do whatever we can to help support folks.”
“It’s important that we do our job
helping to make sure that everybody's
following those rules, so that way those
tools remain available.” - Linda Pinfold
Comments about this article? We want to hear from you.
Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com
28 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 29

28 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 29
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By DR. MATTHEW GRIESHOP | Grimm Family Center for Organic Production at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Abraham Ahumada scouts a broccoli field. The CCA Organic Specialty covers practical production
areas including pest management, fertility, irrigation and disease management in organic systems
(All images courtesy of Grimm Family Center for Organic Production at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.)
A New Credential for
Organic Crop Advisers
Introducing ASA’s CCA Organic Specialty Certification
Organic agriculture is not
simply conventional produc￾tion with a shorter input list. It
is a federally regulated production
system in which agronomic decisions,
documentation, product flow and
risk management must work together.
This creates a clear need for qualified
advisers who can help growers make
sound production decisions while
protecting organic integrity.
The American Society of Agrono￾my’s Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)
Organic Specialty, designated OSp,
was developed to meet that need. It
is the first organic specialty certifica￾tion for crop advisers and is built for
active CCAs who want a nationally
recognized foundation for advising
organic and transitioning operations.
For the 2026 program year, eligibility
is limited to U.S.-based CCAs because
program development was supported
by a USDA grant.
The credential is not intended to
turn an adviser into an instant
organic expert. Its value is that it
establishes a common, practical
baseline: certificate holders will
demonstrate that they understand
the organic system well enough
to identify risks, ask better
questions, and recognize when a
decision requires certifier review.
Why this specialty matters
Organic producers face high-con￾sequence decisions. An unapproved
input, incomplete transition record,
product commingling event or
30 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 31

3. Fertility management.
Adviser will understand soil as a
living system and the biological
underpinnings of nutrient cycling
and mineralization of organic
fertilizer. Advisers will understand
the connections between soil texture,
temperature, organic matter, fertilizer
application method, and crop rotations
that support long-term soil function.
4. Organic integrated pest management.
Advisers will demonstrate knowledge
of the prevent-identify-monitor￾decide-act-evaluate cycle of organic
IPM. They will understand the
hierarchy of organic pest management:
prevention, sampling plans, crop
rotation, resistant varieties, mechanical
tactics, biological control, and
judicious use of approved materials
when other approaches are insufficient.
5. Weed management.
Adviser will demonstrate knowledge
about seedbank dynamics, zero￾seed-rain, crop-weed life-history
relationships and the interaction of
irrigation and fertility with weed
pressure. Advisers must understand
how cultural, physical, biological
“The credential is
not intended to
turn an adviser into
an instant organic
expert. Its value is
that it establishes a
common, practical
baseline.”
poorly documented postharvest practice
can jeopardize certification and market
access, and in extreme cases, result in
significant civil and criminal penalties.
Compared with their conventional
counterparts, organic systems rely on
a narrower range of nutrient and pest
management inputs that have less for￾giving timing requirements. This regu￾larly requires advisers to solve problems
before they become emergencies. The
Organic Specialty provides a credible
way to demonstrate that an adviser
understands the relationship between
biology, production and compliance.
Ten learning areas,
one integrated system
The OSp exam is based directly on ten
performance-objective areas spanning
organic regulations as well as practical
knowledge in key production areas.
1. USDA National Organic
Program Regulations.
Advisers will demonstrate knowledge
of the USDA National Organic
Program structure, relationships
among the NOP, organic
certifiers, producers, handlers,
wholesalers, and retailers, as well
as the potential consequences for
noncompliance and/or fraud.
2. Certification, Inspection,
and Record Keeping.
Advisers will understand land
eligibility and transition requirements,
Organic System Plans, inspection
preparation, audit trails, traceback
and mass balance. They will be
knowledgeable about practical
safeguards against contamination,
commingling, fraud and risk in split
or parallel operations.
CCA Organic Specialty
Special Deal for the November Exam Window
IF REGISTERED BY SEPTEMBER 30 we are
providing a $100 discount for the exam for the
first 150 people!
Pay $70 instead of $170!
Special registration period opens Sept. 9
See the CCA website for more details:
www.sciencesocieties.org/certified-crop￾adviser/already-certified/organic
30 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 31

and approved chemical tactics
work, and where their limits lie.
6. Disease management.
Advisers will understand the disease
triangle, basic pathogen biology,
the importance of resistant and
tolerant varieties, sanitation, crop
rotation, irrigation and canopy
management, suppressive soils,
biologicals and allowed materials.
7. Invertebrate and vertebrate pests.
Advisers will demonstrate
understanding of pest and
beneficial biology, phenology,
monitoring, biodiversity, habitat
requirements and integrated
tactics ranging from exclusion
and trapping to augmentative
and conservation biological
control and approved materials.
8. Irrigation management.
The adviser will have knowledge
of optimal irrigation method
selection to fit soil, crop, water
quality and management limits.
They will also understand weather-,
soil- and plant-based monitoring,
distribution uniformity, salinity
and reducing nutrient loss.
9. Postharvest handling and
food safety.
The adviser will understand
that organic integrity continues
after harvest. Certified advisers
will demonstrate knowledge of
segregation, sanitation, storage,
transport, traceability, water
management, pathogens and the
intersection of organic rules with
preventive food-safety programs.
10. Allowed and prohibited
substances. Advisers will
understand that an input decision
is not resolved by a product label
or a generic claim that a material
is organic. They must understand
the National List, use restrictions,
excluded methods, operation-specific
approved materials lists and the
organic certifier’s final authority on
allowed products and their uses.
What the credential signals
Earning the Organic Specialty signals
that the holder will take a disciplined
approach to providing advice to
organic clients. An OSp holder will
know to verify field history before
calling acreage organic, to examine
the full product and use context
before recommending an input, to
help a grower document a decision
and to involve the certifier before a
change creates a compliance problem.
That approach benefits both
growers and advisers. Growers
gain access to advisers better
prepared to identify organic-specific
tradeoffs, from fertility timing to
CCAs Kyle Harmon, right, and Evan Tamayo discuss field conditions. Tamayo recently earned the new CCA Organic Specialty certification.
32 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 33

1
USDA NOP
Regulations
2
Certification
, Inspection,
and Record
Keeping
3
Organic
Fertility
Organic Pest
Management
5
Organic
Weed
Management
Organic Plant
Pathogen
Management
7
Organic
Invertebrate and
Vertebrate
Pest Management
8
Organic
Irrigation
9
Organic
Post￾Harvest
Handling
and Food
Safety
10
Allowed and
Prohibited
Substances
4
6
1
USDA NOP
Regulations
2
Certification
, Inspection,
and Record
Keeping
3
Organic
Fertility
Organic Pest
Management
5
Organic
Weed
Management
Organic Plant
Pathogen
Management
7
Organic
Invertebrate and
Vertebrate
Pest Management
8
Organic
Irrigation
9
Organic
Post￾Harvest
Handling
and Food
Safety
10
Allowed and
Prohibited
Substances
4
6
Comments about this article? We want
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at
article@jcsmarketinginc.com
➊ The Organic Specialty
is for active CCAs
The new OSp credential provides
a nationally recognized foun￾dation for advising organic and
transitioning operations.
➋ Organic compliance is part
of crop advising
Advisers need to understand
certification, recordkeeping,
approved inputs and when a
decision requires review by an
organic certifier.
➌ The credential goes
beyond regulations
The 10 learning areas include
fertility, IPM, weeds, disease,
pests, irrigation, postharvest
handling and allowed and pro￾hibited substances.
➍ Input recommendations
require an extra check
A product label or claim that
a material is organic does not
determine whether it can be used.
Advisers need to consider the Na￾tional List, use restrictions and the
operation’s approved materials.
➎ The goal is better
decision-making, not
instant expertise
The specialty establishes a
baseline that helps CCAs identify
risks, ask better questions and
recognize when additional guid￾ance is needed.
PUBLISHER’S TAKE
The Big Picture:
recirculated wash-water management.
Advisers gain a nationwide
credential that can distinguish
their capabilities in a growing
market and create opportunities
to take on new responsibilities in
crop consulting, retail agronomy,
crop protection, soil health, food
safety and transition planning.
A practical next step for CCAs
For CCAs who already advise organic
farms, work with growers considering
transition or see organic clients as
part of their future business, the OSp
provides an industry-recognized path
to demonstrate relevant expertise.
Study materials are organized around
the performance objectives, and exam
questions are based directly on those
objectives. The program is designed to
evolve as organic production practices
and regulatory needs change.
Program Learning Areas for the new organic add-on certification.
Organic agriculture needs advisers
who can see the whole system: soil,
crop, pests, water, people, records
and markets. The CCA Organic
Specialty gives qualified advisers
a way to demonstrate that they
are prepared to do exactly that.
Learn more
American Society of Agronomy,
CCA Organic Specialty:
https://www.sciencesocieties.org/
certified-crop-adviser/
already-certified/organic
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge Dr.
Dawn Gibas and Luther Smith of the
American Society of Agronomy, Dr.
Karl Wyant of Nutrien, and California
Certified Organic Farmers, for their
support and leadership in creating
the specialization. I would also like to
thank the many CCAs that contributed
to the creation of the specialization.
This work was supported by the USDA
Transition to Organic Partnership
Program (TOPP), part of the USDA
Organic Transition Initiative,
administered by the USDA Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS). The contents
are solely the responsibility of the
author and do not necessarily represent
the official views of the USDA.
32 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 33

34 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 35
CE Education, Exhibits & Industry Access
September 23–24 | Visalia Convention Center 303 E Acequia Ave, Visalia, CA 93291
HOSTED BY:
Day 1 WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 23 Day 2 THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 24
i Built for PCAs, CCAs and ag professionals who need practical education,
CE opportunities and direct access to the companies serving California agriculture. ★ 12 DPR & up to 17 CCA hours plus an additional 34.5 DPR & 52.5 CCA online hours included with your ticket purchase.
TOP QUALITY
EDUCATION
INDUSTRY
CONNECTIONS
PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS
myaglife.com/crop-consultant-conference/
REGISTRATION,
BREAKFAST
& TRADESHOW OPENS
DPR
2.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
7:00 AM -
10:00 AM
DPR
2.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
7:00 AM -
10:00 AM
NETWORKING MIXER / TRADESHOW RECEPTION 5:00 PM Join us for drinks, connections and conversations. 5:00 PM SHOW ENDS, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
DPR
1.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
10:45 AM -
12:00 PM
PCA: Carpophilus Beetle Management
& Winter Sanitation in Almonds
CCA: Orchard Cover Crops, Soil Health & Water Infiltration
PCA: Walnut Husk Fly & Key Walnut Pest Management
CCA: Sap Analysis for Nutrient Management in Permanent Crops
★
Opening Keynote: 2026 Regulatory Outlook
Worker Protection Standards:
Laws, Regulations & Compliance
Sponsor: Botanical Crop Protection in Modern California IPM
★
DPR
1.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
10:45 AM -
12:00 PM
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.5 hrs
1:00 PM -
2:30 PM
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.5 hrs
1:00 PM -
2:30 PM
LATE
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
CE for day one ends
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
3:30 PM -
5:00 PM
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
3:30 PM -
5:00 PM
Complete ALL REQUIRED
PCA Laws & Regulation
Hours in Person
10:00 AM TRADESHOW BREAK 10:00 AM TRADESHOW BREAK
2:30 PM TRADESHOW BREAK 2:30 PM TRADESHOW BREAK
12:00 PM INDUSTRY LUNCH 12:00 PM INDUSTRY LUNCH
ALMONDS PISTACHIOS WALNUTS GRAPES CITRUS TOMATOES COTTON
COMMODITIES SHOWCASED
PLATINUM SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR BRONZE SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 CROP CONSULTANT CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Tree Nut Economics & Global Market Outlook
PCA: Fumigation Regulations & Alternatives
CCA: Fertigation Management & Nutrient Timing
PCA: Walnut Scale Management
CCA: Micronutrient Management: Zinc, Boron & Iron
★
PCA: San Joaquin Valley Grape IPM
CCA: Mineral Nutrition & Tissue Testing for Grapes
Sponsor: FUN-THYME Biofungicide:
Technology & Field Performance
Closing: 2026 Pesticide Regulation Update
★
BREAKFAST
& TRADESHOW OPENS
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
PCA: Nematode Management in Walnuts & Almonds
CCA: Nitrogen Management & Monitoring
PCA: Herbicide Resistance in California Orchards
CCA: Avocado Production in Valley Climates
★
NOW Program: Performance, New Tools & Future Strategies
Red Leaf Blotch: Epidemiology & Control in Almonds
Sponsor: Huma - Nematode Control
Citrus IPM: Key Pest & ACP/HLB Updates
★
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
CLOSING SESSION
& PRIZE DRAWING
CE for day two ends
PUR Filing Compliance & Common Errors
PCA: Processing Tomato Pest & Disease Management
CCA/Sponsor: Cover Crops & Soil Biology
PCA: Plant Growth Regulators for Citrus Fruit Quality
CCA: New Technology in Water Management
★
PCA: Pesticide Permits, NOIs & Use Reports
CCA: Biologicals: Asking the Right Questions
Walnut Mold: Bloom Timing, Disease Development & Control
Closing: PCA Inspections, Requirements & PURs
★
DON’T MISS THIS!
Special Awards & Recognition
“Up to”
CCA HOURS
CE HOURS (TENTATIVE)
17
DPR HOURS
12
SILVER SPONSOR

34 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 35
CE Education, Exhibits & Industry Access
September 23–24 | Visalia Convention Center 303 E Acequia Ave, Visalia, CA 93291
HOSTED BY:
Day 1 WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 23 Day 2 THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 24
i Built for PCAs, CCAs and ag professionals who need practical education,
CE opportunities and direct access to the companies serving California agriculture. ★ 12 DPR & up to 17 CCA hours plus an additional 34.5 DPR & 52.5 CCA online hours included with your ticket purchase.
TOP QUALITY
EDUCATION
INDUSTRY
CONNECTIONS
PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS
myaglife.com/crop-consultant-conference/
REGISTRATION,
BREAKFAST
& TRADESHOW OPENS
DPR
2.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
7:00 AM -
10:00 AM
DPR
2.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
7:00 AM -
10:00 AM
NETWORKING MIXER / TRADESHOW RECEPTION 5:00 PM Join us for drinks, connections and conversations. 5:00 PM SHOW ENDS, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
DPR
1.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
10:45 AM -
12:00 PM
PCA: Carpophilus Beetle Management
& Winter Sanitation in Almonds
CCA: Orchard Cover Crops, Soil Health & Water Infiltration
PCA: Walnut Husk Fly & Key Walnut Pest Management
CCA: Sap Analysis for Nutrient Management in Permanent Crops
★
Opening Keynote: 2026 Regulatory Outlook
Worker Protection Standards:
Laws, Regulations & Compliance
Sponsor: Botanical Crop Protection in Modern California IPM
★
DPR
1.0 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
10:45 AM -
12:00 PM
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.5 hrs
1:00 PM -
2:30 PM
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.5 hrs
1:00 PM -
2:30 PM
LATE
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
CE for day one ends
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
3:30 PM -
5:00 PM
DPR
1.5 hrs
CCA
2.0 hrs
3:30 PM -
5:00 PM
Complete ALL REQUIRED
PCA Laws & Regulation
Hours in Person
10:00 AM TRADESHOW BREAK 10:00 AM TRADESHOW BREAK
2:30 PM TRADESHOW BREAK 2:30 PM TRADESHOW BREAK
12:00 PM INDUSTRY LUNCH 12:00 PM INDUSTRY LUNCH
ALMONDS PISTACHIOS WALNUTS GRAPES CITRUS TOMATOES COTTON
COMMODITIES SHOWCASED
PLATINUM SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR BRONZE SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 CROP CONSULTANT CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Tree Nut Economics & Global Market Outlook
PCA: Fumigation Regulations & Alternatives
CCA: Fertigation Management & Nutrient Timing
PCA: Walnut Scale Management
CCA: Micronutrient Management: Zinc, Boron & Iron
★
PCA: San Joaquin Valley Grape IPM
CCA: Mineral Nutrition & Tissue Testing for Grapes
Sponsor: FUN-THYME Biofungicide:
Technology & Field Performance
Closing: 2026 Pesticide Regulation Update
★
BREAKFAST
& TRADESHOW OPENS
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
PCA: Nematode Management in Walnuts & Almonds
CCA: Nitrogen Management & Monitoring
PCA: Herbicide Resistance in California Orchards
CCA: Avocado Production in Valley Climates
★
NOW Program: Performance, New Tools & Future Strategies
Red Leaf Blotch: Epidemiology & Control in Almonds
Sponsor: Huma - Nematode Control
Citrus IPM: Key Pest & ACP/HLB Updates
★
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Charter Oak Ballroom A and B for
CCAs and PCAs. General sessions
in the Tradeshow Hall.
CLOSING SESSION
& PRIZE DRAWING
CE for day two ends
PUR Filing Compliance & Common Errors
PCA: Processing Tomato Pest & Disease Management
CCA/Sponsor: Cover Crops & Soil Biology
PCA: Plant Growth Regulators for Citrus Fruit Quality
CCA: New Technology in Water Management
★
PCA: Pesticide Permits, NOIs & Use Reports
CCA: Biologicals: Asking the Right Questions
Walnut Mold: Bloom Timing, Disease Development & Control
Closing: PCA Inspections, Requirements & PURs
★
DON’T MISS THIS!
Special Awards & Recognition
“Up to”
CCA HOURS
CE HOURS (TENTATIVE)
17
DPR HOURS
12
SILVER SPONSOR

Microbial Biostimulants in Practice:
A Field-Level Look at Nitrogen Dynamics in Bok Choy
By AJAY DHUKUCHHU | UCCE Stanislaus County, YARITZA CASTREJON | UCCE Stanislaus County,
NAVNEET KAUR | UCCE Stanislaus County, and ZHENG WANG | UCCE Stanislaus County
I
ntroduction
As a leafy brassica, bok choy (Brassica
rapa subsp. chinensis) needs reliable
nitrogen during its short growth cycle
to build healthy green tissues. However,
this fast-cycling growth characteristic
leaves growers, especially in the Central
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Instead of being immediately available
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rhizobacteria (PGPR), are known to fix
atmospheric nitrogen gas into nitrate
prior to crop use (Figure 1). They
can inoculate roots of a wide variety
of commodities from annual row
crops and vegetables to perennials for
fixing nitrogen, which is called non￾symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Under
real farm conditions, these beneficial
microorganisms are typically delivered
as formulated commercial biostimulant
products via soil drenching, seedling
soaking, foliar spray, or injection. This
study was planned to assess the bok
choy nitrogen dynamics in response to
different application rates of a nitrogen￾fixing biostimulant.
Methods
Experimental site: The trial was conducted
within a commercial bok choy field in
Modesto, California. The soil type was
loam and sandy loam. The trial was
set up in a randomized complete block
design with four replicated blocks and five
treatments (untreated control + four rates
of biostimulant). The site consisted of 20
treatment plots, each 50 feet in length. Bok
choy was seeded on 40-inch-wide beds
with double seed lines (Figure 2). All plots
were managed identically as the rest of the
field using the grower’s standard practices.
Treatment application
After seeding on April 16, 2026, all plots
received the same standard fertility
program independent of biostimulant
treatment. UAN-32 was applied at 10
gal/acre at 2 days after seeding (DAS),
followed by CAN-17 at 43 DAS at 15
gal/acre and again at 51 DAS with 23
gal/acre. The biostimulant used in
this trial is a microbial soil and foliar
inoculant containing a consortium of
beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacteria such
as Azospirillum spp. and Azotobacter
spp. All biostimulant applications were
Figure 1. Mechanism of non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation by
free-living PGPR Azotobacter spp. (Source: Aasfar et al. 2021).
Treatment 1st Application
(32 DAS)
2nd Application
(40 DAS)
3rd Application
(46 DAS)
Total Applied
(g/acre)
T1 - - - 0 (Control)
T2 25 - - 25
T3 50 - - 50
T4 50 50 - 100
T5 50 50 50 150
Table 1. Application timing of biostimulants for each rate (g/acre).
36 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 37

made as a foliar spray with a backpack
sprayer in the early mornings to avoid
evaporation and improve plant absorption.
The trial consisted of four application
rates (25, 50, 100, and 150 g/acre).
Specifically, treatments with higher
rates were built up through sequential
applications at a 50 g/acre increment
rather than applied all at once (Table
1). The first foliar application was made
at 32 DAS during the early vegetative
stage. A total of 0.4 g product was
mixed into 1.5 gallons of water to
cover the T2 plots (25 g/acre), while
a separate 2.4 g was mixed into 4.5
gallons of water to cover the T3-T5
plots (50, 100, and 150 g/acre). The
second application was made at 40
DAS by mixing 1.6 g product into 3
gallons of water covering the T4 and
T5 plots, and the third application
was made at the pre-harvest stage
(46 DAS) with 0.8 g product mixed
into 1.5 gallons of water covering
only the T5 plots (Table 1).
Growing conditions – air temperature:
Temperatures gradually increased over
the course of the season (Figure 3). Daily
high temperatures averaged around
70 F in mid-April and increased to the
mid-90s by mid-June, while daily low
temperatures increased from the 40s to
the mid-50s as the season progressed.
Data collection:
We took the following measurements:
• NDVI readings for vegetative growth
• Plant nitrogen accumulation in
aboveground biomass
• Crop nitrogen uptake and soil nitrate-N
• Bok choy yield (harvested on June 15)
Data/Results
Yield and NDVI response to application
rate: Overall, higher application rates did
not warrant an obvious yield advantage
(Figure 4). Bok choy inoculated at the
rate of 50 g/acre and higher produced
almost the same yield though all were
slightly higher than the control and
the lowest rate (Figure 4). We did not
observe any differences in the NDVI
among treatments. The canopy reached
maximum coverage at 46 DAS and
was well sustained until three days
before harvest (57 DAS, Table 2).
Nitrogen accumulation in aboveground
biomass: Bok choy aboveground
biomass was sampled four times from
each treatment. Oven-dried plant
samples were submitted to a commercial
lab for total percent nitrogen, which was
then converted into cumulative nitrogen
(Figure 5). All treatments followed a
similar nitrogen accumulation pattern
throughout the season, climbing from
roughly 8 lb/acre at 32 DAS to over 120
lb/acre by harvest at 60 DAS except for
the control plot (Figure 5). Although
we saw a 15 to 20 lb/acre advantage in
nitrogen accumulation compared to
the non-inoculated control, increasing
the inoculation rate barely elevated
plant nitrogen accumulation (Figure
5). This observation could inform
growers that adding biostimulants
containing nitrogen-fixing PGPRs at
an appropriate rate may enhance crop
nitrogen accumulation.
Figure 2. The Modesto, Calif., field trial compared four rates of a microbial biostimulant
with an untreated control across 20 treatment plots (Photo courtesy of the authors.)
Treatment May 6
(20 DAS)
May 22
(36 DAS) June 1 (46 DAS) June 12 (57 DAS)
T1 (Control) 21 56 87 83
T2 (25) 17 54 87 82
T3 (50) 20 56 85 87
T4 (100) 20 54 88 78
T5 (150) 18 57 87 83
Table 2. Average NDVI (%) for each application rate (g/acre).
Figure 3. Average maximum and minimum air temperatures throughout the growth
period from CIMIS Station 71 (Modesto).
36 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 37

Nitrogen Uptake at Each Measurement
Nitrogen uptake for all treatments started near 5.4-5.8 g N/100
g dry weight (DW) at 32 DAS, dropped through the 40 and/or
46 DAS sampling points, and recovered by harvest (Figure 6).
It is noteworthy that compared to the inoculated treatments
(4.7-4.9 g N/100 g DW), nitrogen uptake in the control plots
dropped much lower to below 4 g N/100 g DW at 40 DAS
(Figure 6). This may indicate that biostimulant applications,
especially at a higher rate, might have provided additional
nitrogen for plant uptake at mid-season, which is an
important stage for leaf growth and the final yield.
Available nitrogen and applied nitrogen fertilizer: Three
fertilizations were made in the early and mid-late season,
contributing to a total of 115 lb N/acre (Table 3). The first soil
samples were taken at 4 DAS (2 days after the application of
UAN-32) prior to seed emergence. An average of 28.6 ppm of
nitrate-N from 1-foot cores translates to roughly 114 lb/acre
early season total available nitrogen in the 0-12” profile
(Table 3). Soil samples were taken again at 28 DAS (pre￾biostimulant) and post-biostimulant at 40 and 46 DAS for the
real-time nitrate-N. Soil nitrate-N rose sharply from the 4
DAS baseline to a peak of roughly 47-53 ppm at 28 DAS with
the contribution of full release of UAN-32 and then declined
steadily across all treatments through 40 and 46 DAS when the
crop was within the peak nitrogen demand (Figure 7). Still,
soil nitrate-N from inoculated plots (50 and 150 g/acre) at 40
and 46 DAS was slightly higher than other treatments (Figure
7). A third fertilizer application, at 51 DAS, occurred after
the final soil sample and is not reflected in this balance. The
aboveground biomass nitrogen data (Figure 5) showed that
bok choy accumulated 75-84 lb N/acre by 46 DAS, compared
to a total of roughly 175 lb N/acre supplied from soil residues
and first two fertilizer applications, well aligning with the
remaining ~80-100 lb N/acre in the soil at 46 DAS (Figure 7).
Discussion and Takeaways
Overall, adding N-fixing microbial inoculants slightly
increased bok choy yield, total nitrogen accumulation, and
left a higher level of remaining soil nitrogen, especially
using the higher inoculation rate. It is noteworthy that the
field received the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer across
all treatments, which differed from other studies where
inoculated plants typically received a reduced nitrogen
application. This may explain the limited increase in
productivity and nitrogen uptake after bok choy was treated.
Nitrogen
source Timing N content
First soil
samples 4 DAS 28.6 ppm = 114 lb N/acre
UAN 32
fertilizer 2 DAS 10 gal/acre = 35 lb N/acre
CAN 17
fertilizer 43 DAS 15 gal/acre = 32 lb N/acre
CAN 17
fertilizer 51 DAS 23 gal/acre = 48 lb N/acre
Total applied
nitrogen 115 lb N/acre
Table 3. Soil nitrogen supplies throughout the growing season.
Application rate is another frequently asked question. At
least in this study, the maximum rate did not translate
into a superior yield over the others, raising questions
about the balance between crop performance and
budget. However, we should take the short growing cycle
of bok choy into consideration and reasonably expect
different outcomes for longer season commodities, such
as tomato and cucurbits. The first year’s outcomes
should be considered more as a trend showing positive
impacts of biostimulants. As more products and crops
Figure 6. Nitrogen uptake in bok choy biomass for each biostimulant rate.
Figure 4. Average bok choy yields across treatments over the season.
Figure 5. Cumulative nitrogen in bok choy aboveground biomass for
each biostimulant rate.
38 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 39

Figure 7. Soil nitrate-N at each measuring date for each application rate.
are being investigated, we will generate more solid information
on the optimal practice of biostimulant application.
Reference:
Aasfar, A., Bargaz, A., Yaakoubi, K., Hilali, A., Bennis, I., Zeroual,
Y., & Meftah Kadmiri, I. (2021). Nitrogen fixing Azotobacter
species as potential soil biological enhancers for crop nutrition
and yield stability. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 628379.
Comments about this article? We want to hear from you.
Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com
➊ Biostimulant treatments showed
a positive trend
Inoculated bok choy had slightly higher yield and great￾er nitrogen accumulation than the untreated control.
➋ More was not necessarily better
Increasing the biostimulant rate above 50 g/acre did
not produce an obvious yield advantage.
➌ Midseason nitrogen dynamics may be important
Nitrogen uptake dropped more sharply in the
untreated control at 40 days after seeding than in
inoculated treatments.
➍ Nitrogen supply matters when
interpreting the results
Every treatment received the same fertilizer
program, totaling 115 lb N/acre, which may have
limited the additional response attributable to the
microbial inoculant.
➎ These results are a starting point,
not a prescription
The researchers characterize the first-year
findings as trends and plan additional work to
better define optimal biostimulant practices across
products and crops.
PUBLISHER’S TAKE
The Big Picture: What to do Next
38 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 39

Soil NOx: Is it the
next air pollution
issue... or not?
By ROGER A. ISOM | President/CEO Western Tree Nut Association
I
n 1994, the California Air Resources
Board (CARB) had initially iden￾tified “soil NOx” as a significant
source of air pollution coming from
agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley.
Soil NOx includes emissions of nitric
oxide and nitrogen dioxide that are
emitted from agricultural soils fol￾lowing fertilization. NOx and volatile
organic compounds (VOC) react
together in the presence of sunlight to
form ozone. The San Joaquin Valley
is non-attainment for ozone, meaning
the valley does not meet the Nation￾al Ambient Air Quality Standard
(NAAQS). In fact, the San Joaquin
Valley is among the worst areas for
ozone in the country and is considered
“extreme non-attainment” for ozone.
Based on the current emissions
inventory, NOx emissions play the
more pivotal role in ozone formation,
so EPA, CARB and the San Joaquin
Valley Air Pollution Control District
have focused on lowering NOx
emissions. Combustion has been
identified as the predominant source
of NOx emissions, so trucks, vehicles
and engines have been the focus
of most regulatory efforts to date.
However, soil NOx has always been
on the radar screen and has received
a great deal of attention in the last
couple of years.
Early Research on Soil NOx
To quantify just how significant these
emissions were, CARB contracted
with UC Berkeley in 1994 to conduct
research and measure soil NOx
emissions from various crops in the
San Joaquin Valley before, during and
after the application of fertilizer.
The study used flux chambers placed
directly on the soil to measure the
emissions at 26 different locations
from various crops including
cotton, alfalfa, almonds, corn, sugar
beets, grapes, irrigated pasture,
oranges, peaches and tomatoes.
Emissions ranged from 1.0 to 9.1
ng-N cm-2 h-1. While there was
some variability in the results, the
authors commented “our data clearly
suggest that NOx fluxes in the San
Irrigation practices are among the factors researchers are examining as they work to
better understand nitrogen losses from California agricultural soils (Photo by K. Platts.)
40 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 41

Joaquin Valley in July and August
1995 were not remarkably high in
comparison with the range of values
published in the literature.” As a
result, CARB did not pursue any
actions on regulating soil NOx. 1
New Research Reopens
the Question
Then in 2018, an article from UC
Davis researchers claimed that soil
NOx emissions from agriculture
are 161,100 metric tons of NOx-N
per year, equating to as much as 32%
of all NOx emissions in the state. It
should be noted these estimates were
completely based on models and not
on actual emissions measurements. 2
This report was met with great
skepticism, led by a report published
nine months later in the same
publication, which claimed that the
previously mentioned Almaraz report
used an assumed fertilizer input
that exceeded reported statewide
sales of fertilizer N by 50%.3
Over the next couple of years, one
of the co-authors in the Almaraz
report, Dr. Ian Faloona, took this
issue on personally, even testifying
at hearings and workshops of the
California Air Resources Board
(CARB), commenting that soil NOx
emissions are under-reported and
need to be regulated. Ultimately, this
pressure resulted in the establishment
of the Subject Matter Expert Review
Panel (SMERP) to review all data
and science on soil NOx emissions.
After meeting for months, the
SMERP issued a final report in May
2025 that concluded “more studies
focusing on organic and inorganic
“The goal is to ensure the science is
done right and accurately reflects
common industry practice.”
40 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 41
Red leaf blotch (Polystigma amygdalinum), first detected in California in 2024 and already confirmed
across multiple counties, thrives where leaf litter inoculum is high.
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@jcsmarketinginc.com
N-rich amendments are needed, as
well as to investigate the impacts
of micro-irrigation and fertigation
practices on gaseous N losses.”
Another Look at Soil NOx
As a result, CARB has contracted with
UC Irvine and UC Davis to conduct
longer-term and more comprehensive
measurements on soil NOx throughout
2027. The Western Tree Nut Association
has met with CARB and the researchers
on the proposed efforts and is currently
reviewing the proposed work plan. The
goal is to ensure the science is done
right and accurately reflects common
industry practice.
In the end, one must wonder, if you
believe what they say in how much
nitrogen gets past the root zone
and into the groundwater, and how
much comes out of the soil and into
the atmosphere, how much nitrogen
gets to the plant? Maybe this latest
research project will get us that
answer. Who knows? One thing we
do know: California will never stop
looking for ways to regulate us.
References
1. Matson, Pamela, and Mary
Firestone. “Agricultural Systems in
the San Joaquin Valley: Development
of Emissions Estimates for
Nitrogen Oxides.” University of
California, Berkeley. Contract
No. 94-732. January 1997.
2. Almaraz, Maya, et al.
“Agriculture Is a Major Source
of NOx Pollution in California.”
Science Advances. Jan. 31, 2018.
3. Maaz, Tai McClellan, et al.
“Inconsistencies Undermine the
Conclusion That Agriculture
Is a Dominant Source of
NOx in California.” Science
Advances. Sept. 12, 2018.
Soil nitrate testing can help assess
available nitrogen and inform fertil￾izer management decisions. (Photo
courtesy Richard Smith, UCCE)
42 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 43

42 Progressive Crop Consultant September / October 2026 September / October 2026 www.progressivecrop.com 43
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45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
11
Small
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32
Large
34
30
39
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36
23
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9
19
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