Greater Insect Pressures Reported Across The Columbia Basin

The lack luster winter has impacted Northwest Agriculture in a variety of ways, from low reservoir and soil moisture levels to elevated wildfire concerns.  Another issue that's jumped to the forefront across the Columbia Basin is insect pressures.

Plants Stayed Lush & Green Over Winter

Washington State University’s Dr. Tim Waters said the mild fall and winter resulted in what he called “alternative host plants” allowing insects to do well during the typical off season.

“So we typically get into the fall months, the days get shorter, right? And then those plants get those cues that it's time to sort of go into wintering mode, right? So those plants kind of shorten up, they quit growing," Water said.  "And that really took a long time to happen this last fall and winter. And a lot of those plants stayed lush and green through the winter. And so then we get to the spring, we've got a relatively early and warm spring and a lot of insects in particular really thrive during this early spring condition and even some soil borne diseases.”

High Insect Pressures Expected To Continue

Waters added with that vegetation staying green late last year into early 2026, growers are now seeing some diseases that may have vectored in the fall.

“So, typically we don't get a lot of insects building up in the fall," Water noted.  "We think that those insects did pretty good going into the fall and actually vectored some disease in some of those crops that overwintered. And then when the crops, when they start to grow in the spring, you really don't see that in the winter because they still are going into that overwintering mode. But when they really start to grow in the spring, then those symptoms start to be expressed in those crops.”

Waters said with higher-than-normal insect pressures right now, he expects the trend to continue to the summer.  Meaning scouting will be even more important this summer.

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