2016 Soybean Insect Losses in the Southern US

Authors

F. R. Musser, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
A. L. Catchot Jr., Mississippi State University
J. A. Davis, Louisiana State University
G. M. Lorenz, University of Arkansas
T. Reed, Alabama CES
D. D. Reisig, North Carolina State University
S. D. Stewart, The University of Tennessee
S. Taylor, Virginia Tech

Abstract

Estimated soybean insect costs and losses experienced during 2016 were collected and compiled following the 2016 growing season to provide a record of insect pressure and management practices for the year. This survey has been done annually in all participating states since at least 2011, with Mississippi having data back to 2004. The 2016 survey represents 10.8 million soybean acres across the southern United States. Overall, corn earworm was the most expensive pest in soybean followed closely by soybean looper and stink bugs. Total insect management costs rose slightly to $26.03 per acre during 2016. Estimated crop losses to insects also increased to $20.83 per acre, making the total cost + losses for 2016 reach $46.86 per acre, more than $6 greater than the record low estimated costs + losses in 2015. The average number of insecticide applications per crop ranged from 0.06 in Virginia to 3.2 in Louisiana, while estimated crop loss ranged from 0.7% in Virginia to 6.9% in North Carolina.

Recommended Citation

Musser, F. R.; Catchot, A. L. Jr.; Davis, J. A.; Lorenz, G. M.; Reed, T.; Reisig, D. D.; Stewart, S. D.; and Taylor, S. (2017) "2016 Soybean Insect Losses in the Southern US," Midsouth Entomologist: Vol. 10: No. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/midsouthent/vol10/iss1/1