Washington, Oregon Growers Reminded Not To Kill All Insects

As insect pressures increase for vegetable growers across Washington and Oregon, producers are reminded that not all creepy-crawlies are bad. Washington State University's Tim Waters said a generation or two ago, the growers used broad spectrum insecticides, meaning almost all insects in a sprayed field would die.

“Now we're using things that are really narrowing spectrum, or mode of action. So, they only kill certain types of insects. So, it’s really important to know what they're dealing with and also to know if it’s a beneficial or not," Water said. "Like I said, with stink bugs, it gets a little bit complicated because you have some that they generally look quite close to one another and some are pests, and some are beneficial. And what we find this time of year is if you inadvertently kill beneficial insects, then what you do is you cause an outbreak of a secondary pest.”

Farmers Don't Need To Have All Of The Answers

Waters said with the line, often, being very thin between pest and beneficial, he said it’s important growers lean on the expertise and knowledge of their local extension office.

“You know, right now obviously the Ag economy is pretty tight and so growers can't really afford to make unnecessary applications of fungicides, and insecticides and things like that," Waters added. "So you know, important to know if we're dealing with the past and it's if and if it's of an economic concern or not because it's just growers don't have extra money to spend. On pesticide applications, so we want to make sure that those applications that they do make are aimed at the right thing and at the right time. Because certainly you know, you still need to protect your crop, but we don't want to. Be making unnecessary applications.”

What Pressures Are Growers Facing To Start August?

For more from Waters on insect pressures, disease pressures, or any other issues growers across the Columbia Basin are facing this year, listen to our entire podcast:

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