Chile Crop Under Pest Pressure | Albuquerque News

New Mexico’s chile season is booming—but growers are battling a fierce insect-driven virus outbreak. Beet leafhoppers, thrips, and aphids are spreading Curly Top Virus, the same pest that wrecks tomatoes, with this year’s surge fueled by scarce weeds forcing insects into chile fields. Overusing broad-spectrum sprays backfires by killing natural predators, so experts are pushing for smarter, targeted tactics like reflective mulch. While the threat is real, the crop’s future still looks bright—thanks to science, resilience, and New Mexico’s legendary chile spirit. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c2e497fd75ee7e70