Battling the toughest pests in 2025 and beyond
How Corteva Agriscience offers targeted pest control solutions for growers
(Sponsored) For the 2025 potato growing season, the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) continued to challenge growers across North America and remains one of the most destructive pests impacting potato production today. With two effective product solutions, Delegate® WG and Transform® WG insecticides, Corteva Agriscience helps growers manage Colorado potato beetles and other pests such as thrips, aphids, leafhoppers and others.
Colorado Potato Beetle at a glance
- Major potato pest throughout North America
- Adults become active in the spring about the same time as potato plants emerge
- Larvae and adults feed on leaves and can completely defoliate plants
- Resistance to some insecticides has occurred
- 40-80% yield losses have been documented
Kevin Cochrane, territory manager at Corteva Agriscience, supports growers in their efforts to produce high-quality crops by recommending the most effective solutions from the comprehensive portfolio of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and biologicals from Corteva Agriscience.
According to Cochrane, CPB populations are increasing and spreading throughout the Pacific Northwest, causing growers to make control applications earlier in the season.
“Growers are dealing with higher CPB pressure this year than in 2024,” Cochrane said. “Delegate WG was used a lot earlier this season because of earlier beetle hatches. Some growers made applications as early as May, confirming their populations are increasing and spreading, which may be influenced by warmer temperatures this past fall and spring.”
Transform® WG insecticide is a trusted product in Corteva’s portfolio and can be used throughout the growing season in potatoes and a broad range of other crops.
“Transform WG insecticide is very effective on aphids,” Cochrane said. “It can be applied midseason and provides excellent control of labeled pests without flaring secondary pests, particularly mites and/or thrips.”
Delegate® WG Insecticide Transform® WG Insecticide
(IRAC Group 5) (IRAC Group 4c)
Colorado Potato Beetle Aphids
Loopers Leafhoppers
Potato Psyllids Potato Psyllids
Thrips Lygus
For 2026, CPB, aphids and leafhoppers are the big insect pests of which growers should remain aware.
With potato acreage shrinking this year and next year’s acreage still unclear, many growers are also facing threats from other pests, like microscopic nematodes that live below the soil surface.
“As commodity prices shift, growers want to maintain flexibility in their planting options the following season,” Cochrane said. “Fumigants used to control plant-parasitic nematodes are traditionally applied in the fall. If a farmer’s soil sample revealed increasing levels of nematodes at levels that suggest using a fall fumigant, growers must make a management decision that economically limits planting options in the spring.”
Avoiding Risk
“Fumigants can cost anywhere between $700 to $800 per acre,” Cochrane said. “That is an expensive input which takes away the option of planting another commodity which may hold more profit potential.”
Corteva’s nematicide/insecticide portfolio gives growers more flexibility in their decision-making process right up to planting and throughout the season, according to Cochrane.
Corteva’s nematicides provide growers with the necessary nematode control without having to make an application decision six months in advance. Instead, it can be made up to and after planting.
“Salibro® nematicide and Vydate® C-LV insecticide/nematicide will provide growers the needed nematode control but increase their crop decision flexibility for next spring’s planting season,” Cochrane said. “So, the grower isn’t committed on that ground, plus has increased flexibility in plant-parasitic nematode control season-long.”
Benefits of a Program Approach
“We have to be good stewards of the products, the crop and the environment,” Cochrane said. “Having the ability to rotate chemistries that are specific to pests and don’t impact beneficials is the name of the game.”
Growers are front-line environmental stewards and conservationists. It supports their economic and environmental sustainability. It also contributes to long-term preservation of crop protection chemistries. Implementing a program approach, using multiple modes of action and chemistries that provide effective control of target pests without harming beneficial insects and soil organisms, is one of the main benefits of a program approach to weed and pest insect management.
To learn more about Corteva, visit www.corteva.us/content/corteva/na/us/en/homepage.html
®, ™ Trademark of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Vydate® C-LV is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Delegate, Salibro, Transform® WG and Vydate C-LV are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
