2023 Soybean Insect Losses in the United States

Authors

Fred R. Musser, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Emily Bick, University of Wisconsin
Sebe A. Brown, University of Tennessee
Whitney D. Crow, Mississippi State University
Jeffrey A. Davis, Louisiana State University
Christina DiFonzo, Michigan State University
Chase Floyd, University of Missouri
Scott H. Graham, Auburn University
Jeremy K. Greene, Clemson University
Kelly A. Hamby, University of Maryland
David Kerns, Texas A&M University
Sean Malone, Virginia Tech
David Owens, University of Delaware
Dominic D. Reisig, North Carolina State University
Phillip M. Roberts, University of Georgia
Nicholas J. Seiter, University of Illinois
Adam J. Sisson, Iowa State University
Benjamin C. Thrash, University of Arkansas
Kelley J. Tilmon, Ohio State University
Raul T. Villanueva, University of Kentucky

Abstract

Estimated insect management costs and losses due to insects and other invertebrates in soybean during the 2023 growing season were collected and compiled from 19 states to provide a record of insect pressure and management practices for the year. These annual estimates provide a historical record of pest pressure and insect management and have been compiled in some states since 2004. Participating states represented 58% of soybean acreage grown in the United States, with near 100% participation in southern states. Overall, the stink bug complex was the costliest insect pest in soybean followed by corn earworm and soybean looper. Total insect management costs were $13.92 per acre, with estimated crop losses to insects at $12.26 per acre, making the 2023 total costs plus losses $26.18 per acre. An average of 0.7 foliar insecticide applications were made over all soybeans. State estimates varied widely, with insect management costs in four states averaging less than $10/ac, while averaging more than $35/ac in three states. Similarly, the estimated yield losses from insects ranged from less than $2/ac in four states to more than $40/ac in two states.

Recommended Citation

Musser, Fred R.; Bick, Emily; Brown, Sebe A.; Crow, Whitney D.; Davis, Jeffrey A.; DiFonzo, Christina; Chase Floyd; Graham, Scott H.; Greene, Jeremy K.; Hamby, Kelly A.; Kerns, David; Malone, Sean; Owens, David; Reisig, Dominic D.; Roberts, Phillip M.; Seiter, Nicholas J.; Sisson, Adam J.; Thrash, Benjamin C.; Tilmon, Kelley J.; and Villanueva, Raul T. (2024) "2023 Soybean Insect Losses in the United States," Midsouth Entomologist: Vol. 17: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/midsouthent/vol17/iss1/2