Vegetable Growers Reminded To Remain Vigilant For Pests

Vegetable growers across the Columbia Basin are reminded to remain vigilant  in fighting pests this year.  WSU’s Tim Waters says for potatoes, there’s been more aphid pressure this year than in previous years.  He added the long, hot, dry spell the region has been under for the past week has led to the development of two spotted spider mites.

“Almost every potato field I’ve visited in the last week has some two spotted spider mites in it.  So, I think for growers right now, they want to be out scouting for spider mites and if they’ve got a potato crop  that’s going to be a full season potato crop they’re going to want to consider controlling those mites.”

Waters says for onion growers thripes has been a problem across the Inland Northwest.  Outside of thripes?

“We’ve had more Iris Yellow Spot Virus.  So, that’s a virus that’s vectored by the thripes, so we’ve seen that further spread then we normally do.  There’s kind of a couple of areas where we always see Iris Yellow Spot Virus, and it’s been more spread this year, than it has in previous hyears.  I think that’s directly coordinated with the thirpes numbers.”

Waters said there’s also a big of a problem this season with Downy Mildew compared to a typical year.

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