A large number of agrochemicals, including thiamethoxam and fludioxonil, have been recommended for the control of major pests and diseases in oilseed crops such as soybean and peanut.

Recently, the National Agricultural Technology Extension Center has organized the development of technical guidelines for the prevention and control of major pests and diseases affecting soybean, cotton, peanut, sunflower, and other crops, as well as for strip intercropping of soybean and maize, to be implemented by 2025.

Which major pests and diseases of oilseed crops are expected to occur at moderate to severe levels in 2025, and what pesticide products are recommended for their control at different developmental stages?

1. Soybean

In 2025, the major pests and diseases expected to occur in soybean cultivation include soybean root rot (Northeast spring soybean region), soybean pod borer (Northeast spring soybean region), beet armyworm (Yellow–Huai–Hai soybean–corn intercropping region), and tobacco whitefly (southern Yellow–Huai–Hai region), among others.

Pesticide products recommended for pest control:

• Sowing period: Seed treatments such as fludioxonil‑metalaxyl, pyraclostrobin, and thiamethoxam are used to control root rot, cyst nematodes, and underground pests.

• From the seedling stage to the branching stage: chlorantraniliprole (for controlling leaf‑feeding pests), clothianidin–chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam–chlorpyrifos‑methyl, and others (for controlling piercing‑sucking pests), as well as biopesticides such as matrine and abamectin.

• From flowering to pod-filling: Fungicides include azoxystrobin–flutriafol, benzo‑thiadiazole–azoxystrobin (for controlling rust, anthracnose, and other diseases), and azoxystrobin–cymoxanil (for managing downy mildew), among others. Insecticides comprise thiamethoxam, chlorantraniliprole, and Bacillus thuringiensis (for managing stink bugs, soybean pod borers, bean pod moths, and other pests), among others.

2. Peanut

In 2025, the peanut diseases and pests expected to occur with relatively high incidence include peanut leaf spot (in localized areas), cotton bollworm (in localized areas), and underground pests such as grubs, wireworms, and cutworms.

Pesticide products recommended for pest control:

• Sowing period: Seed treatments such as fludioxonil, cyproconazole–fludioxonil–azoxystrobin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam are recommended for controlling soil-borne diseases and underground pests. Additionally, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae can be applied via furrow application to manage underground pests.

• Seedling stage: Fungicides—tetramycin, thifluzamide–tebuconazole (for controlling stem rot and root rot). Insecticides—deltamethrin (for controlling aphids, thrips, and other piercing‑sucking pests).

• From flowering and pod set to full fruit maturity: Fungicides—Bacillus subtilis, polyoxin (biopesticides), azoxystrobin–flutriafol (for controlling foliar diseases). Insecticides—deltamethrin, cypermethrin–malathion (for controlling cotton bollworm, beet armyworm, etc.). Phoxim granules and thiamethoxam granules (for controlling soil-dwelling pests).

3. Sunflower

In 2025, sunflower crops will require close attention to sclerotinia stem rot, sunflower moth, cotton bollworm, and flower thrips, among others.

Pesticide products recommended for pest control:

• Sowing period: Seed treatments such as fludioxonil and thiamethoxam can be used to prevent sclerotinia rot and underground pests.

• From bud formation to flowering: biological pesticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis (for controlling sunflower moths and cotton bollworm larvae) and the East Asian flower bug (for managing thrips) may be used. Additionally, procymidone and fludioxonil can be applied to control sclerotinia rot, while pyraclostrobin is effective against rust.

• From flowering to maturity: Use insecticides such as deltamethrin and lambda‑cyhalothrin to control sunflower moths and cotton bollworms. Apply fungicides like mancozeb and carbendazim to manage black spot and brown spot diseases.

4 . Cotton

In 2025, the major cotton pests and diseases expected to occur at moderate to severe levels include cotton aphids, cotton leaf mites, thrips, cotton mirids, cotton bollworms, Verticillium wilt, seedling diseases (such as damping-off and seedling blight), and boll diseases (such as gummy stem blight and anthracnose).

Recommended pesticides and application stages:

• Sowing period: Apply seed treatments such as thiamethoxam and imidacloprid to control aphids during the seedling stage, and use difenoconazole and fludioxonil to prevent seedling diseases.

• From the seedling stage to the bud stage: insecticides such as buprofezin and flonicamid may be applied to control cotton aphids; fungicides like Bacillus subtilis and polyoxin can be used to manage seedling diseases.

• Boll‑setting stage: Biological pesticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis and cotton bollworm nucleopolyhedrovirus can be used to control the cotton bollworm, while chemical agents like chlorantraniliprole and indoxacarb are effective against the cotton bollworm and the cotton mirid bug.

• Flower‑boll stage: aluminum tris(ethyl phosphonate) and polyoxin (for the control of boll disease).

The original text is as follows:

2025 Soybean Pest and Disease Control Technical Plan

According to forecasts from the National Agricultural Technology Center, in 2025, soybean diseases and pests nationwide are expected to occur at a moderate level, affecting an area of 135 million mu‑times, with severity higher than last year. Specifically, soybean root rot and soybean pod borer will be prevalent in the Northeast spring soybean region; beet armyworm will be moderately to heavily prevalent in the Huanghuaihai soybean–corn intercropping area; and tobacco whitefly will be moderately to heavily prevalent in southern Huanghuai. To effectively implement soybean disease and pest management in 2025, this plan has been formulated.

I. Prevention and Control Objectives

The loss rate due to pests and diseases is kept below 5%, with a dual focus on disease and pest control to boost both yield and quality. In major soybean-producing areas and in strip‑intercropping regions, integrated green pest management and unified pest‑control services are being strengthened to ensure the safety and quality of soybean production.

II. Prevention and Control Strategies

Adhering to the principle of prevention first and integrated pest management, we will rationally select resistant or tolerant varieties, strengthen seed treatment and sound cultivation practices, and comprehensively apply a range of technical measures—including cultural control, ecological regulation, physicochemical trapping, biological control, and judicious use of chemical pesticides—to boost yields across large areas.

III. Target Groups for Prevention and Control

(1) Northern Spring Soybean Region

Key pests and diseases to be rigorously managed include root rot, soybean cyst nematode, soybean pod borer, and soybean aphid, with attention also given to bacterial spot, sclerotinia stem rot, downy mildew, gray leaf spot, bean pod borer, red spider mite, cotton bollworm, alfalfa looper, soybean bud gall midge, as well as leaf beetles and underground pests.

(II) Huanghuai Summer Soybean Region

Key pests and diseases to be closely monitored and controlled include root rot, viral diseases, anthracnose, beet armyworm, stink bugs, and whiteflies, while also addressing stem blight (stem dieback), underground pests, cotton bollworm, soybean pod borer, bean pod borer, soybean aphids, and snails.

(3) The southern region is predominantly a soybean-growing area.

Key pests and diseases to be closely monitored and controlled include root rot, rust, viral diseases, anthracnose, the striped armyworm, the bean pod borer, and the bean stem fly; concurrent attention should also be given to the beet armyworm, the bean leafroller, the rice weevil, the spotted lanternfly, the rice green bug, and underground pests.

IV. Prevention and Control Measures

(1) Sowing period: Implement appropriate crop rotation and avoid early sowing under low soil temperatures. Select disease- and pest-resistant varieties, screen and carefully select high-quality seeds, and treat them with appropriate chemical agents. To control underground pests as well as seedling-stage pests such as leaf beetles and soybean aphids, use seed treatments containing thiamethoxam or similar active ingredients; in areas where grubs and other underground pests are recurrent, apply granular formulations of imidacloprid or Metarhizium anisopliae, either by broadcasting or incorporating them into the seed fertilizer during planting. For managing root diseases like soybean root rot and cyst nematode disease, use seed treatments containing active ingredients such as cyantraniliprole + fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, or emamectin benzoate.

(2) From the seedling stage to the branching stage: For leaf‑feeding pests, spray applications of chlorantraniliprole and similar products are recommended. For sap‑sucking pests, use chemical agents such as clothianidin–chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam–chlorpyrifos‑methyl, or bifenthrin–flonicamid, or apply biopesticides like matrine or abamectin by spraying. To control viral diseases, promptly manage sap‑sucking pests to prevent virus transmission; this can be combined with foliar application of plant resistance inducers such as amino‑oligosaccharides for preventive measures. In large contiguous fields, integrate physical control methods—such as color traps and light traps—to monitor and suppress adult stages of pests including whiteflies, scarab beetles, and lepidopteran insects.

(3) From flowering to pod‑filling stage. In the early stages of disease, spray with azoxystrobin–flutriafol, benzo‑pyraclostrobin–azoxystrobin, propiconazole–azoxystrobin, flusilazole, and other formulations to control rust, stem blight, anthracnose, and sclerotinia; use azoxystrobin–cymoxanil or fluopicolide–metalaxyl to manage downy mildew; and apply kasugamycin–copper, zinc thiazole, thiamethoxam, and similar products to manage bacterial spot. Simultaneously apply foliar fertilizers, growth regulators, and resistance‑inducing agents to strengthen plants and prevent premature senescence. During the initial flowering and pod‑setting phase, prioritize control of piercing‑sucking pests such as the soybean bug; deploy aggregation pheromone traps and spray with insecticides like thiamethoxam and buprofezin, while also managing other leaf‑feeding pests. In the pod‑filling and grain‑filling stage, focus on controlling pod‑borers such as the soybean pod borer and bean pod borer; use sex pheromones to trap adult moths, release Trichogramma wasps to destroy eggs, and apply Bacillus thuringiensis, chlorantraniliprole, or lambda‑cyhalothrin to control newly hatched larvae, while concurrently managing other pests. Before mature larvae exit pods and burrow into the soil, evenly spray the soil surface with Beauveria bassiana powder to control overwintering larvae. When snails and other mollusks cause damage, apply metaldehyde or a combination of metaldehyde and molluscicide to control them.

(4) Harvesting period: Straw is chopped and returned to the field, followed by deep plowing and harrowing to reduce the initial population of pests and diseases.

V. Precautions

(1) The number of registered pesticide products for soybeans is limited. The formulations mentioned in this plan are for reference only. Pesticides should be selected scientifically in accordance with the relevant regulations and guidance issued by local agricultural and rural affairs authorities, with due attention paid to rational rotation and alternating use of products.

(2) In the early stages of pest and disease outbreaks, prioritize non-chemical control measures such as biological and physical methods, while safeguarding and harnessing natural enemies and biodiversity. For leaf‑feeding pests, during the vegetative growth phase of soybeans, appropriately relax control thresholds to reduce chemical inputs, and emphasize precise management during the flowering, pod‑setting, and grain‑filling stages.

(3) Strengthen the integration of plant protection equipment—such as seed‑treatment machines, sprayers, and drones—with corresponding operational techniques to ensure both effective implementation and safety.

Technical Plan for the Control and Management of Pests and Diseases in Strip Intercropping of Soybeans and Corn in 2025

In the soybean–corn intercropping zones, plant density is high and pest and disease complexes are diverse. Pests and diseases such as the beet armyworm, the oriental armyworm, the brown marmorated stink bug, stem rot, root rot, and leaf spot disease pose an increased risk of severe outbreaks in certain areas. To ensure effective pest and disease management for intercropping in 2025, this plan has been specially formulated.

I. Prevention and Control Strategies

Adhering to the principle of prevention first and integrated pest management, with a focus on the coordinated control of major pests and diseases under the soybean–corn intercropping system, we comprehensively apply techniques such as healthy cultivation, physicochemical trapping and monitoring, biological control, and judicious use of pesticides. By targeting critical periods of pest and disease emergence, we implement integrated management, make efficient use of advanced plant protection equipment, effectively enhance control efficacy, and ensure both production and product quality and safety.

II. Target Pests and Diseases

(1) Southwest Intercropping and Relay Cropping Zone

Corn: ear rot, leaf blight, sheath blight, northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot, southern rust, fall armyworm, European corn borer, peach fruit borer, beet armyworm, cotton bollworm, aphids, and others. Soybean: root rot, soybean rust, viral diseases, anthracnose, beet armyworm, pod borer, bean stem fly, sweet potato budworm, rice green stink bug, rice water weevil, and underground pests, among others.

(II) Northwest Intercropping Model Zone

Corn: rust, stalk rot, northern corn leaf blight, European corn borer, aphids, spider mites, cotton bollworm, underground pests, and the two-spotted leaf beetle, among others. Soybean: root rot, downy mildew, gray leaf spot, soybean pod borer, soybean aphid, bean pod borer, red spider mite, cotton bollworm, leaf beetles, and underground pests, among others.

(3) Intercropping Model Zone in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and the Middle–Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

Corn: southern rust, ear rot, brown spot, Curvularia leaf spot, small spot, stalk rot, as well as the European corn borer, cotton bollworm, armyworms, peach fruit borer, aphids, thrips, and others. Soybean: root rot, viral diseases, anthracnose, Phomopsis stem blight (stem dieback), beet armyworm, cotton bollworm, beet armyworm, bean bug, tobacco whitefly, soybean pod borer, soybean podworm, and underground pests, among others.

III. Prevention and Control Measures

(1) Sowing period: Select disease- and pest-resistant varieties and adopt appropriate planting density. For maize, choose compact, high-density-tolerant types; seed treatment should primarily target aphids, thrips, stalk rot, and smut. For soybeans, select shade-tolerant varieties; seed treatment should focus on controlling soybean root rot, Phomopsis stem rot, underground pests, and leaf beetles. Use seed coatings containing active ingredients such as cyantraniliprole–fludioxonil, thifluzamide, pyraclostrobin, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid. In different regions, select formulations tailored to the predominant local diseases and pests.

(2) Seedling stage to the corn “bell‑mouth” stage (soybean branching stage). First, physical and chemical control measures: deploy insecticidal lamps, sex pheromones, food attractants, and colored sticky traps to trap adult pests. Second, biological control: apply Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, nuclear polyhedrosis virus, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Serratia marcescens to manage early‑instar larvae. Third, chemical control: use chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spinosad, thiamethoxam, and other products to manage fall armyworm, European corn borer, cotton bollworm, aphids, whiteflies, and other pests; employ abamectin and etoxazole to control spider mites; and apply pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and ningnanmycin to manage foliar diseases of corn and soybeans, with plant‑induced resistance agents optionally used in combination to enhance crop stress tolerance.

(3) From flowering (corn tasseling stage) to maturity. Building on early‑season control measures, and based on the incidence of northern corn leaf blight, southern corn leaf blight, southern rust, brown spot, ear rot, borers, soybean rust, leaf spot, pod borer, soybean podworm, beet armyworm, and other pests and diseases, apply targeted fungicides such as Bacillus subtilis, Jinggangmycin, pyraclostrobin–fluoxastrobin, benzoic acid–azoxystrobin, and propiconazole–azoxystrobin, along with insecticides like chlorantraniliprole, lambda‑cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, and thiamethoxam, in appropriately formulated tank mixes. For snails and slugs, broadcast polyaldehyde–carbamate granules. To manage stink bugs, use pheromone traps or spray with thiamethoxam or similar agents.

IV. Precautions

(1) In soybean fields with heavy canopy shading, plant growth regulators should be used to control excessive vegetative growth. Products such as uniconazole or paclobutrazol may be applied once during the soybean branching stage; in severely affected fields, an additional spray can be applied during the flowering stage.

(2) When applying pesticides with unmanned aerial vehicles, be sure to add adjuvants such as wetting agents, and ensure a spray volume of at least 1.5 liters per mu. For pest control, seize the optimal window during the early larval stages, and implement integrated pest management with the goals of protecting seedlings, preserving the heart of the plant, and ensuring yield. After harvest, promptly chop or bale crop residues to reduce the number of disease‑affected plant parts and pest sources in the field.

Technical Plan for the Control and Management of Major Cotton Diseases and Pests in 2025

According to forecasts from the National Agricultural Technology Center, by 2025, cotton aphids, cotton leaf mites, thrips, cotton mirids, cotton bollworms, Verticillium wilt, seedling diseases (including damping-off, sudden death, and anthracnose), and boll diseases (such as blight, anthracnose, and red rot) are expected to occur widely across all major cotton-growing regions. Meanwhile, whiteflies, beet armyworms, soil-borne pests (including cutworms, mole crickets, and grubs), Fusarium wilt, and beet armyworms will be localized in certain areas. To effectively implement pest and disease management for cotton in 2025 and ensure the safety of cotton production, this plan has been specially formulated.

I. Prevention and Control Strategies

Emphasize preventive measures during the pre-sowing and seedling stages, and pest‑management strategies during the bud‑and‑boll stage. Prioritize the use of resistant (or tolerant) varieties, seed treatments, ecological regulation, agronomic practices, and biological control to fully leverage cotton’s intrinsic compensatory capacity and the sustained pest‑suppressing power of natural enemies. Give preference to bio‑based and environmentally friendly pesticides, implement compliant application standards and precision spraying, and thereby achieve effective pest control while safeguarding bolls and ensuring yield. Integrate green pest management with professional, unified pest‑control services to enhance efficacy and reduce the intensity of chemical pesticide use.

II. Key Areas of Prevention and Control

(1) Northwest Inland Cotton Region: This includes the cotton-growing areas of Xinjiang and Gansu. Key pests and diseases to be controlled include cotton aphids, cotton leaf mites, thrips, cotton mirids, cotton bollworms, Verticillium wilt, seedling diseases, and boll diseases. Close attention should also be paid to whiteflies, beet armyworms, and Fusarium wilt.

(2) Cotton-growing regions in the Yellow River Basin, including Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Tianjin, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. Priority control measures should target cotton aphids, cotton mirids, cotton bollworms, whiteflies, cotton leaf mites, Verticillium wilt, seedling diseases, and boll diseases; close attention should also be paid to thrips, beet armyworms, and Fusarium wilt.

(3) Cotton-growing regions in the Yangtze River Basin, including Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Hunan. Priority control measures should target cotton mirids, cotton leaf mites, cotton bollworms, cotton aphids, beet armyworms, seedling diseases, and boll diseases, while closely monitoring Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, thrips, whiteflies, pink bollworms, and beet armyworms.

III. Prevention and Control Measures

(1) Prevention and Control Technologies

1. Select disease- and pest-resistant varieties. Based on local conditions, choose cultivars resistant to Fusarium wilt and tolerant to Verticillium wilt; give priority to insect-resistant cotton varieties that also exhibit strong resistance or tolerance to diseases, and sow at the appropriate time to prevent seedling diseases.

2. Seed treatment. To address the major pests and diseases during the seedling stage, apply appropriate insecticides and fungicides as seed coatings. Insecticides may include thiamethoxam- or imidacloprid-based seed treatments, while fungicides can include difenoconazole, fludioxonil, or pyraclostrobin, among others.

3. Ecological regulation. In the inland cotton-growing regions of Northwest China, plants such as alfalfa are sown along field edges and within shelterbelts, while functional plant strips—featuring bitter vetch, licorice, camel thorn, ramie, and tamarisk—are maintained along field borders. Intercropping cotton with winter wheat is encouraged, and in other cotton‑growing areas, flowering plants like snakegrass, cosmos, and zinnias are planted at field margins or in strip plantings to attract and harbor natural enemies, thereby enhancing their ability to suppress pests such as cotton aphids, cotton bollworms, cotton leaf mites, and cotton mirids. In areas where the cotton bollworm is prevalent, corn is intercropped with cotton, and hempseed strips are established along field edges to lure adult bollworms for oviposition, allowing for concentrated eradication. Around cotton fields and along field borders, early‑maturing mustard-type rapeseed, safflower, and sunflower strips can serve as trap crops, helping to either block pest movement or concentrate them for targeted control of pests like grassland mirids.

4. Conservation and utilization of natural enemies. First, conserve and utilize natural enemies: during the early growth stage of cotton, prioritize protecting and harnessing the natural enemies present in the field; after harvesting wheat and rapeseed, leave crop residues in the field for 2–3 days to encourage the migration of beneficial insects such as lady beetles and lacewings into the cotton fields. Second, conduct artificial releases of natural enemies: at the onset of peak adult emergence of the cotton bollworm, release egg‑parasitizing wasps—such as Trichogramma pretiosum or T. dendrolimi—2–3 times per generation, with intervals of 3–5 days, releasing 10,000 individuals per mu each time to reduce bollworm larval populations. During localized outbreaks of cotton leaf mites, hang one bag containing predatory mites—such as Amblyseius cucumeris, Neoseiulus baraki, or Neoseiulus fallacis—on each central plant, releasing 100,000 individuals per mu each time to control mite populations.

5. Physicochemical trapping and control. From the first appearance of overwintering adult cotton bollworms to the end of the final generation, apply cotton bollworm sex pheromone lures across contiguous cotton fields and adjacent host‑crop fields. First, for mating disruption, use a high‑dose pheromone smart‑spraying device, installing one set per 3 mu, or place bag‑type pheromone dispensers in the field, at an average of six per mu. Second, for mass‑attraction and killing, deploy one volatilizing lure core and one dry‑type moth trap per mu; in areas of the Yangtze River cotton region where the beet armyworm is prevalent, apply beet armyworm sex pheromone lures on contiguous plots, using one lure core and one moth‑type trap per mu to attract and kill adult moths, thereby reducing egg deposition in the field. Third, apply bio‑based food attractants across contiguous areas: 1–2 days before the emergence of the primary pest generation of noctuid moths (such as cotton bollworm, cutworm, and beet armyworm), apply the agent in strip‑like bands, evenly spraying the upper leaf surfaces of cotton plants along a single row every 50–80 meters, which can effectively lure and kill adult moths.

6. Agronomic practices: Maintain field cleanliness by promptly removing cotton stalks and remnants of pests and diseases after harvest. In autumn, carry out deep plowing; in regions where conditions permit, irrigate during the fall and winter to conserve soil moisture and reduce the overwintering population of pests and pathogens. Employ selective herbicides that are safe for beneficial plants to control weeds along field edges that do not harbor natural enemies, or perform inter-row cultivation to suppress weed growth and thereby minimize pest‑induced crop damage. In the Northwest cotton-growing area, optimize field layout by avoiding intercropping cotton with large areas of spring corn, processing tomatoes, or cruciferous crops, and by locating cotton fields away from densely concentrated greenhouse complexes, thus reducing the risk of pest migration and associated damage caused by cotton bollworms, cotton mirids, and whiteflies.

(II) Rational Drug Use Techniques

1. Cotton aphids. When the beneficial–pest ratio falls below the threshold for control, and in cotton-growing areas of the Yellow River Basin and the inland Northwest, if the proportion of plants with curled leaves reaches 5%–10% before the three-true-leaf stage, or 10%–20% after the four-true-leaf stage, targeted spot‑treatment with insecticides should be applied. In regions where conditions permit, it is recommended to use remote-sensing monitoring to guide precision pesticide application. For summer‑season aphids, when the average number of aphids on the middle and lower leaves of a single plant ranges from 200 to 300, whole‑field control measures should be implemented. Appropriately alternate the use of agents such as dinotefuran, flonicamid, flonicamid–nitenpyram, cyantraniliprole, and pymetrozine.

2. Cotton leaf mite. When outbreaks are localized or the percentage of infested plants is below 15%, treat only the central plants; when the infestation rate exceeds 15%, implement whole-field control. Recommended acaricides include etoxazole, etofenprox, pyridaben, and abamectin. In areas where conditions permit, during the localized outbreak stage, remote-sensing monitoring is recommended to guide precision application of pesticides.

3. Thrips. During the seedling and bud stages, tobacco thrips are the primary pest; control is mainly achieved through seed treatments containing thiamethoxam or imidacloprid. In the flowering–boll‑setting stage, flower thrips predominate; spray applications of Metarhizium anisopliae or thiamethoxam can be used for management.

4. Cotton blind bugs. Focus on protecting flower buds and the growing tip; apply pesticides when threshold levels are reached. Control thresholds: In the inland cotton-growing regions of Northwest China, the dominant species is the grass‑feeding blind bug; the threshold is 12 bugs per 100 plants during the bud stage, 20 during the flowering stage, and 40 during the boll stage. In the Yellow River Basin, the main pests are the three‑spotted blind bug and the green blind bug, with thresholds of 5 bugs per 100 plants at the bud stage and 10 at the flowering–boll stage. In the Yangtze River Basin, the primary pests are the green blind bug and the medium‑black blind bug, with a new‑damage rate of 3% or 5 bugs per 100 plants. Apply insecticides from the field edges inward, using formulations such as Metarhizium anisopliae, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and flonicamid.

5. Cotton bollworm. Prioritize the use of biological pesticides such as cotton bollworm nucleopolyhedrovirus, cabbage looper nucleopolyhedrovirus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtilis var. aizawai, azadirachtin, and spinosad. For chemical pesticides, select chlorantraniliprole, flufenoxuron, indoxacarb, and flufenoxuron.

6. Seedling diseases. Primarily prevent through seed coating; use seed treatments such as fludioxonil, metalaxyl‑M, and azoxystrobin. At the onset of disease, especially during cool, overcast, and rainy conditions, apply timely chemical control using agents like Bacillus subtilis, kasugamycin, or oxymatrine for foliar spray.

7. Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt. Use Bacillus subtilis for seed coating. From the seedling stage through the bud stage, apply Bacillus subtilis, amino‑oligosaccharides, allicin, or similar products by foliar spray or fertigation during the pre‑disease period or at the early onset of symptoms.

8. Boll rot. Before the onset of the disease or at its earliest stage, focus spraying on flower buds and young bolls for preventive control; alternatively, apply preventive treatments before rain during the flowering–boll‑setting period, and follow up with timely post‑rain sprays to contain the disease. Recommended fungicides include aluminum tris(ethyl phosphonate) and polyoxin.

IV. Precautions

(1) Prioritize the use of biopesticides and highly selective chemical pesticides that are safe for natural enemies, while emphasizing the regional conservation of cotton-field natural enemies and the sustainable management of cotton ecosystems.

(2) Based on resistance monitoring results for cotton aphids and other pests, the use of highly effective cypermethrin, deltamethrin, imidacloprid, and similar insecticides is temporarily suspended; the number of applications of carbofuran is strictly limited; and different‑mode‑of‑action agents such as flonicamid, flupyradifurone, and sulfoxaflor are rotated to prevent repeated use of the same product within a single growing season.

(3) Strictly comply with pesticide application procedures and observe the pesticide safety interval.

Technical Plan for Peanut Pest and Disease Control in 2025

According to forecasts from the National Agricultural Technology Center, in 2025, major peanut diseases and pests are expected to occur at a moderate level nationwide, affecting an area of 110 million mu. Peanut leaf spot, cotton bollworm, and underground pests are likely to be more severe in certain localized areas. To ensure effective management of peanut diseases and pests in 2025, this plan has been specially formulated.

I. Prevention and Control Strategies

Adhere to the principle of prevention first and integrated pest management; promote resistant (or tolerant) varieties; comprehensively apply techniques such as healthy cultivation, physicochemical trapping and control, and biological control; use high‑efficacy, low‑risk pesticides in a scientifically sound and safe manner; advance full‑cycle green pest and disease management for peanuts; and ensure the safety and quality of peanut production.

II. Target Groups for Prevention and Control

Key pests and diseases to be controlled include underground pests, beet armyworm, brown spot, white mold, and stem rot; concurrent attention should also be given to root rot, black spot, net blotch, fruit rot, rust, bacterial wilt, cotton bollworm, striped armyworm, aphids, thrips, and spider mites.

III. Prevention and Control Measures

1. Sowing period: Focus on controlling soil-borne diseases and underground pests. Rotate crops with cereals such as corn, tailored to local conditions, and carry out timely deep tillage. Select high‑quality, high‑yielding varieties that are resistant or tolerant to key stresses, sow at the appropriate time, and plant at an optimal density. Based on the incidence of soil-borne diseases, underground pests, and sap‑sucking insects, prepare seed treatments by appropriately mixing fungicides such as fludioxonil, and insecticides such as imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and clothianidin. During seed dressing, consider adding plant growth regulators like brassinolide, indole‑3‑butyric acid, or kinetin, or immune‑inducing agents such as aminooligosaccharides, to promote plant growth and development and enhance stress tolerance and resistance to diseases and pests. At sowing, apply Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae in furrows to control underground pests.

2. Seedling stage: Focus on controlling stem rot, root rot, and sap-sucking pests. At the early stages of stem rot and root rot, apply fungicides such as tetramycin, thifluzamide–tebuconazole, or thifluzamide–pyraclostrobin by spraying the base of the stems. For sap-sucking pests like aphids, thrips, and spider mites, use insecticides such as deltamethrin for foliar application, while also preventing virus diseases transmitted by these pests. For grubs, wireworms, and cutworms, apply flufenoxuron via drenching at the root zone, or mix granular formulations with sand and broadcast them.

3. From flowering and pegging to full fruit maturity. Focus on controlling foliar and stem‑base diseases, as well as lepidopteran pests. At the early stages of foliar diseases such as brown spot, black spot, net blotch, and rust, apply biopesticides like Bacillus subtilis or polyoxin, or spray with chemical fungicides such as azoxystrobin‑difenoconazole, pyraclostrobin, or benzo‑pyrimethanil‑azoxystrobin. Before peanut rows close, drench the base of the stems with fungicides including Bacillus subtilis, thifluzamide, fluopyram‑azoxystrobin, thifluzamide‑tebuconazole, or fluazinam to prevent and manage white mold, root rot, stem rot, and fruit rot. Ensure proper irrigation and drainage to maintain optimal field moisture levels.

During the emergence periods of the beet armyworm, cotton bollworm, striped armyworm, and cutworms, use insecticidal lamps, sex pheromone traps, and food attractants to trap and kill adult insects, and apply cypermethrin or fenvalerate–malathion formulations to control larvae. During the peanut pod‑filling stage, employ phoxim granules or thiamethoxam granules to manage underground pests such as white grubs.

In peanut fields with dense plant stands and vigorous growth, apply plant growth regulators such as uniconazole, calcium cyclamate, or paclobutrazol–mepiquat chloride during the flowering and pegging stage to control excessive vegetative growth.

IV. Precautions

(1) At the early stage of pest and disease outbreaks, prioritize non-chemical control measures such as biological and physical methods, and take care to protect and harness natural enemies.

(2) When using sex pheromone traps, it is advisable to deploy them over large, contiguous areas; pheromone lures targeting different pest species should not be placed in the same trap.

(3) Light‑based trapping should be conducted during the peak emergence period of adult pests and their nocturnal activity, with efforts made to minimize impacts on natural enemies and non‑target organisms.

Technical Plan for the Control of Major Diseases and Pests of Sunflowers in 2025

According to forecasts from the National Agricultural Technology Center, major sunflower diseases and pests are expected to occur at a moderate level nationwide in 2025. Common sunflower diseases and pests include sclerotinia rot, verticillium wilt, downy mildew, rust, white rust, leaf spot, brown spot, broomrape, sunflower stem borer, cotton bollworm, flower thrips, grass cutworm, two-spotted long-legged leaf beetle, mirids, white-spotted flower chafer, aphids, and underground pests, among others. To effectively implement control measures for these key sunflower diseases and pests in 2025, this plan has been specially formulated.

I. Prevention and Control Strategies

Adhering to the principles of “tailoring measures to local conditions, implementing region-specific strategies, and providing category‑based guidance,” we comprehensively employ green pest‑management techniques—including agronomic practices, physicochemical trapping and control, biological control, and judicious use of pesticides—while coordinating pest and disease management with honeybee pollination safety. We also organize timely emergency control measures to ensure the production and quality safety of sunflowers.

II. Target Pests and Diseases

1. Seedling stage: In the Xinjiang and Gansu production areas, the primary focus is on controlling Sclerotinia stem rot and underground pests. In the Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi production areas, the main targets are Verticillium wilt, Sclerotinia stem rot, and underground pests. In the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Hebei production areas, the emphasis is on managing rust and underground pests.

2. Bud‑formation stage: In the Xinjiang and Gansu production areas, the primary focus is on controlling Sclerotinia stem rot, white rust, and underground pests. In the Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi production areas, the main targets are sunflower borer, Verticillium wilt, thrips, Sclerotinia stem rot, downy mildew, sunflower broomrape, and grass cutworms. In the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Hebei production areas, the emphasis is on managing sclerotial rot, Verticillium wilt, black spot, brown spot, rust, and underground pests.

3. Flowering stage: In the Xinjiang and Gansu production areas, the primary targets are Sclerotinia stem rot, Verticillium wilt, white rust, sunflower broomrape, flower thrips, cotton bollworm, mirids, and sunflower moth. In the Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi production areas, the main pests and diseases to be controlled include sunflower moth, flower thrips, Verticillium wilt, Sclerotinia stem rot, sunflower broomrape, and grass webworm. In the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Hebei production areas, the focus is on managing sclerotial rot, Verticillium wilt, rust, and sunflower broomrape.

4. Maturity stage: In the Xinjiang and Gansu production areas, the primary targets are sunflower broomrape, cotton bollworm, sunflower stem borer, flower thrips, and mirids. In the Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi production areas, the main pests and diseases to be controlled are the sunflower stem borer, sclerotinia rot, sunflower broomrape, and grass cutworm. In the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Hebei production areas, the primary focus is on controlling sunflower broomrape.

III. Prevention and Control Measures

(1) Preventive Technologies

1. Select disease-resistant or tolerant varieties. Based on local conditions, choose cultivars resistant to or tolerant of Sclerotinia stem rot, Verticillium wilt, rust, and sunflower broomrape, and avoid planting highly susceptible varieties.

2. Agronomic practices: In late autumn, till the soil to destroy diseased and dead plant residues, promptly remove infected plants from the field to reduce primary inoculum; rotate crops with gramineous and leguminous species and implement appropriate intercropping; eliminate weeds of the Chenopodiaceae family and host plants of the western flower thrips in and around the field to effectively decrease overwintering populations of mirid bugs and lower larval densities of the beet armyworm and western flower thrips; sow at an optimal late date and maintain appropriate planting density; apply bio‑fertilizer in furrows at sowing, increase base fertilizer application, and supplement with timely topdressing to enhance plant resistance to diseases.

3. Pre-planting prevention: Before sowing, apply seed treatments—such as seed coating, seed dressing, or seed soaking—using appropriate fungicides or insecticides tailored to the specific target pests and diseases, including fludioxonil and thiamethoxam.

(II) Non-chemical Green Pest Control Technologies

1. Physical and chemical control. During the peak emergence of adult sunflower moths and cotton bollworms, deploy 25–30 pheromone traps per hectare in a checkerboard pattern at equal intervals to trap and kill adults. During the bud‑formation stage, hang blue sticky traps to lure and eliminate flower thrips, positioning them 10 cm above the sunflower plants. Use insecticidal lamps to control sunflower moths, cotton bollworms, and underground pests. For cotton bollworms, employ food‑attractant devices for trapping and killing.

2. Biological control: During the bud‑formation and flowering stages of sunflowers, Trichogramma pretiosum can be released manually to control sunflower moths and cotton bollworms, while Orius sauteri can be used to manage thrips. In the early flowering stage, Bacillus thuringiensis can be applied selectively to the flower heads to control larvae.

(3) Pesticide-based pest control technology

1. Sclerotinia rot. In fields with a history of severe outbreaks, apply fungicides such as procymidone or fludioxonil during the initial flowering stage for control.

2. Rust disease. Field trials across different regions have demonstrated that spraying pyraclostrobin or propiconazole during the early stages of infection yields good results; based on these trials and demonstrations, the scope of application can be expanded.

3. Black spot disease. Field trials across different regions have demonstrated that, at the early stage of infection, timely applications of mancozeb, chlorothalonil, or iprodione—repeated every 7 to 10 days for 2 to 3 consecutive sprays—yield good control. Based on these trial results, the scope of application can be expanded.

4. Brown spot disease. In the early stages of the disease, alternate between fungicides such as carbendazim and thiophanate‑methyl, applying them at intervals of 7–10 days for 2–3 consecutive sprays.

5. Sunflower stem borer, cotton bollworm, and grass cutworm. Field trials across various regions have demonstrated that spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis, cotton bollworm nucleopolyhedrovirus, chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate–indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, deltamethrin, lambda‑cyhalothrin, and diflubenzuron yields good control when applied before the newly hatched larvae bore into the flower head; on the basis of these trials and demonstrations, the scope of application can be expanded.

6. Flower thrips. During the seedling stage through the bud stage, integrated control can be carried out in conjunction with other diseases and pests.

7. Mirid bugs. Field trials across different regions have demonstrated that, when infestations are severe, spray applications of chemical agents such as lambda‑cyhalothrin and flonicamid can achieve good control. Given the strong migratory capacity of adult mirids, it is especially important to coordinate timing and organize integrated pest management efforts during treatment.

IV. Precautions

(1) When employing light‑based trapping techniques, use insecticidal lamps designed for specific wavelength bands and adjust the light spectrum according to the time of day; broad‑spectrum insecticidal lamps are prohibited.

(2) When employing sex pheromone‑based trapping techniques, large contiguous areas should be managed under unified, coordinated control, and lure cores targeting different pest species must not be placed in the same trap.

(3) During the sunflower flowering period, the use of sticky insect traps is prohibited to avoid unintentional harm to honeybees, and the application of pesticides toxic to bees is strictly forbidden. Pesticide applications should be scheduled whenever possible during times when honeybees are not foraging.

(4) Use registered pesticides for sunflowers, or select varieties based on temporary pesticide recommendations issued by the local provincial agricultural authorities; strictly observe the pre-harvest interval; and emphasize rotational use of pesticides to delay the development of resistance.

Source: National Agricultural Technology Extension Network