Now Is The Time To Assess Your Disease And Pest Plans

Fall is a great time of year for farmers to look back at what worked this year, scout fields for resistance, and perhaps consider changes that need to be made for 2026.  Curtis Rainbolt with BASF said it’s important for growers to look back on their insect pest management, determining what worked, as well as what didn’t work.

“Unlike resistance in weeds, which can be a little bit easier to spot, it's a little harder to tell with insects because they kind of move in, move out. It's not quite as obvious," Rainbolt said.  "So, If you dive back into what happened the last season, what your applications were, maybe something you've been using successfully for multiple seasons, but it just wasn't quite right, take note of that. And that may be a potential case of insecticide resistance.”

Now Is The Time To Plan For A Successful 2026

Rainbolt added growers need to take this time of year to ask University specialists, those at your nearby Extension Office, about what the industry is seeing locally and how to best address those pest or weed problems.  He said as growers look to the season ahead, it’s important to choose insecticides with different modes of action, to reduce selection pressures.

He acknowledged that this is a difficult economy for many in the farming community.

“Even in a depressed market, quality is something that growers can still benefit from," Rainbolt said.  "Growing a crop that's of the highest quality, got a nice size profile. So using some of our better insecticides can help with that as well.”

A Good Harvest Starts Before The Season Begins

Rainbolt added growers that used insecticides with unique modes of action closed out 2025 with healthier plants, better standability and an extended harvest window.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com