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, a technical service representative with BASF, says it’s important for growers to look back on their insect pest management and determine 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 move in and move out. It’s not quite as obvious. So, if you dive back into what happened 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.”

Rainbolt added that growers should take this time of year to ask University specialists at their nearby Extension Offices about what the industry is seeing locally and how to best address those pest or weed problems.

Rainbolt added as growers look to the season ahead, it’s important to choose insecticides with different modes of action to reduce selection pressures. At the same time, 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. Growing a crop that’s of the highest quality, has a nice size profile, so using some of our better insecticides can help with that as well.”

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