Thrips Prediction and Solutions.
5-29-2026
A lot of cotton fields will be sprayed for thrips over the next week or two. I’m predicting lower thrips risk than last year. I don’t know if predicting bugs is any easier than predicting weather or markets, but I can tell you, I would rather predict bugs than either of the other two.
Here’s my take and situational response/recommendations. Overall early damage is lower than last year, and early indications of Western Flower thrips are lower than last year. But both are present. Nevertheless I predict we will only spray once for seed treatments and mostly none for AgLogic. The research station is reporting all the recommended products are working. Westerns are lower so far than last year. About 5-10% of the fields are anticipated to have Westerns but levels will vary. No reports so far of heavy thrips damage, but some is at threshold or moderate. Farmers also have 4 primary planting strategies so different situations warrant different approaches. Find which of the following situations and solutions fit you best:
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If you just want the best product choice, use 3.0 oz. of Hemi.
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You used seed treatments only with nothing else in-furrow. This treatment is looking good 2 weeks after planting but a foliar spray at the first true leaf is recommended.
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If you are not going to look at your fields or don’t have a scout to find which fields have above threshold damage either before or after the automatic first true leaf spray, then use 2.5-3.0 oz. of Hemi. 2.5 is similar to acephate on Tobacco thrips but better on Westerns. 3.0 oz. is better on both species. I’ld probably use 2.5 and move on.
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You will look at your fields or have a scout. Use acephate if you have relatively low damage or Hemi if damage is already at level 2 out of 5. If you use acephate first, check fields about 5 days after spraying to verify the newest bud leaf looks relatively healthy and cotton is developing.
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You use in-furrow treatments. Both AgLogic and AdmirePro in-furrow offer a lot more ingredients than seed treatments and are looking very good. Still in dry conditions of the sidewall of the furrow was caving in preventing good contact of the insecticide with the seed, there can be some poor performance.
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If you are planning on not spraying automatically, be sure to confirm good control from the planting treatment. It is still important to spray prior to the 3rd leaf, or else it is sort of like “closing the barn door after the horse is already out.”
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If you're looking but still want to spray automatically for peace of mind, use the approach of using acephate if it’s pretty clean or Hemi if it is rough.
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You used ThryvOn. Don’t spray foliarly.
Overall, once we get 3 healthy leaves on the better planting treatments or 2 healthy leaves after a foliar spray, Or if you reach the 5-leaf stage and it never looks good, then you can put thrips behind you.
Log in at Commonwealth gin for more information or call me and share you ideas.
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