Resources

Cotton Insect Losses - 1996

Michael R. Williams, Chairman
Extension Entomologist
Cooperative Extension Service
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762

Background

This information was provided by state coordinators and was collected from surveys of county agents, extension specialists, private consultants and research entomologists. All data are averaged over a total reporting unit, state, etc. For example, if a unit report represents 100 acres and an 8% loss on 25 of these acres, then in the table summary this shows up as a 2% loss. ((.08 25)/100). This type of averaging is used for all data reported including yields and costs of control. Because of averaging and rounding some individual state summary numbers listed as '0' are slightly larger. Cost are averaged to the nearest cent, bales and acres to the nearest whole number, other numbers are rounded to the nearest .001. Bales are calculated at 480 pounds, and a cost of $0.70 per pound of lint is used in figuring costs.


Highlights

Arthropod pests reduced overall yield by 6.61% in 1996. The bollworm/budworm complex was still the number one pest in the U.S. with a yield reduction of 2.37%. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the U.S. cotton acreage was infested with bollworm/budworm in 1996, requiring 1.3 applications of insecticide per acre. These numbers are down and are influenced by the 1.86 million acres of Bt cotton which was planted in 1996. Only 54% of U.S. cotton was infested by boll weevil, yet it remains the strong number 2 pest at 1.86% yield reduction. Lygus (0.68%), aphids (0.48%),and thrips (0.40%) complete the rogues gallery for the top five insects of 1996. Total cost of management and loss to insects to the 1996 crop was $1.2 billion or $89.68 per acre. Of those costs approximately $45 are direct insect management costs and the other $44 is loss in yield.


Key To Table

Table 1 -- USDA Yield Estimates
Table 2 -- At Planting Applications
Table 3 -- Eradication Costs
Table 4 -- Bt Cotton Costs
Table 5 -- Application Costs
Table 6 -- US Summary
Tables 7-7c -- Alabama Tables
Tables 9-9b -- Arkansas Tables
Table 10 -- California Summary*
Table 11 -- Florida Summary
Table 12 -- Georgia Summary
Table 13 -- Louisiana Summary
Tables 14-14b -- Mississippi Tables
Table 15 -- Missouri Summary
Table 16 -- New Mexico Summary
Table 17 -- North Carolina Summary
Table 18 -- Oklahoma Summary
Table 19 -- South Carolina Summary
Table 20 -- Tennessee Summary
Tables 21-21h -- Texas Tables
Table 22 -- Virginia Summary

*California - This estimate represents the San Jocquain Valley, only.


State Coordinators

  • Alabama --- Dr. Ronald H. Smith
  • Arkansas --- Dr. Charles Allen
  • Arizona --- Dr. Peter Ellsworth
  • California --- Dr. Peter Goodell
  • Florida --- Dr. R. K. Sprenkel
  • Georgia --- Dr. Phillip Roberts
  • Louisiana --- Dr. Ralph Bagwell
  • Mississippi --- Dr. Blake Layton
  • Missouri --- Dr. Ray Nabors
  • New Mexico --- Dr. Jane Pierce
  • North Carolina --- Dr. Jack Bacheler
  • Oklahoma --- Dr. Miles Karner
  • South Carolina --- Dr. Mitchell Roof
  • Tennessee --- Dr. Ron Seward
  • Texas --- Dr. James Leser
  • Virginia --- Dr. Ames Herbert