Resources

Cotton Insect Losses - 2002

This report is sponsored by a grant from the Cotton Foundation.

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. For example, if a unit report represents 100 acres had an 8% loss on 25 of those 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. Costs 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 $0.65 per pound of lint is used in figuring costs.


Highlights

Arthropod pests reduced overall yield by 4.61% in 2002. There were 14.38 million acres of cotton planted in 2002, but only 12.86 million acres harvested. Alabama at 16.1% reported the greatest percentage loss to insects in 2002. The bollworm/budworm complex was the top pest of 2002 taking 2.31% of the 2002 crop. Almost 80% of the US crop was infested with the complex of which 83% were bollworms. No other pest exceeded 1% reduction. Fifty-three percent (53%) of US cotton acres was infested by Lygus which reduced yields by 0.72%. Thrips and stink bugs were almost tied for third at 0.447% (Thrips) and 0.446% (stink bugs) reduction. Thrips infest 96% of US cotton acres and stink bugs infest 42%. Boll weevil at 0.175% were 5th infesting 2.21 million acres. Aphids (0.118%) were 6th in the pest loss rankings. Cotton fleahoppers (0.109%), silverleaf whitefly (0.087%), fall armyworm (0.045%) and beet armyworm (0.039%) complete the the top ten insect pests of 2002. Total cost of management and loss to insects to the 2002crop was $1.14 billion or $86.11 per acre. Of those costs approximately $60 are direct insect management costs.


Key To Table

Table 1 -- USDA /NASS yield estimates
Table 1a -- USDA/NASS planted and harvested acres
Table 2 -- At planting insecticide applications
Table 3 -- Cotton insect eradication costs
Table 4 -- Bt cotton costs by state
Table 5 -- Application type and costs
Table 6 -- Cotton insect monitoring costs
Table 7 -- Summary of All States
Table 8 -- Alabama Summary
Table 8a -- North Alabama
Table 8b -- Central Alabama
Table 8c -- South Alabama
Table 9 -- Arizona
Table 9a -- Arizona Bt Varieties
Table 9b -- Arizona nonBt Varieties
Table 10 -- Arkansas Summary
Table 10a -- Northeast Arkansas
Table 10b -- Southeast Arkansas
Table 11 -- California
Table 12 -- Florida
Table 13 -- Georgia Summary
Table 13a -- Georgia Bt Varieties
Table 13b -- Georgia nonBt Varieties
Table 14 -- Kansas Summary
Table 14a -- Kansas Southwest
Table 14b -- Kansas South Central
Table 15 -- Louisiana Summary
Table 15a -- Louisiana: Bt Varieties
Table 15b -- Louisiana: nonBt Varieties
Table 16 -- Mississippi Summary
Table 16a -- Mississippi Delta
Table 16b -- Mississippi Hills
Table 17 -- Missouri
Table 18 -- New Mexico
Table 19 -- North Carolina Summary
Table 19a -- North Carolina Bt Varieties
Table 19b -- North Carolina nonBt Varieties
Table 20 -- Oklahoma
Table 21 -- South Carolina Summary
Table 21a -- South Carolina Bt Varieties
Table 21b -- South Carolina nonBt Varieties
Table 22 -- Tennessee Summary
Table 22a -- Tennessee Bt Varieties
Table 22b -- Tennessee nonBt Varieties
Table 23 -- Texas Summary
Table 23a -- Texas, Upper Coastal Bend
Table 23b -- Texas, Lower Coastal Bend
Table 23c -- Texas, Northern Rolling Plains
Table 23d -- Texas, High Plains
Table 23e -- Texas, Far West
Table 23f -- Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley
Table 23g -- Texas, Southern Rolling Plains
Table 23h -- Texas, Northern Blacklands
Table 23i -- Texas, Southern Blacklands
Table 24 -- Virginia

Explanation of Tables

The Cotton Insect Losses estimates are a simple attempt to arrive at the average cost of control of cotton arthropod pests. We attempt to arrive at the most accurate estimate possible for spray activities, but have also added some of the other costs which are incurred in cotton insect pest management. These 'additional' costs increase the bottom line of expenditures for arthropod pest management - but also more accurately reflect true expenditures. We include 'at planting insecticide costs,'(an estimate of the cost of systemic insecticides applied at planting for control of thrips and other pests of seedling cotton); 'Bt cotton costs,'(an estimate of the technology fee); 'eradication costs'(which include the maintenance fee in those states which have eradicated the weevil and other eradication projects); and 'scouting costs;' in addition to the traditional 'foliar insecticide costs.' Bales lost are also given a dollar value using 480 pound bales at $0.65 per pound. Remember, these are estimates and may not totally reflect an individual farm or area, but they do reflect trends and serve as a general comparison.


State Coordinators

Alabama --- Dr. Ronald H. Smith
Arkansas --- Dr. Gus Lorenz
Arizona --- Dr. Peter Ellsworth
California --- Dr. Peter Goodell
Florida --- Dr. R. K. Sprenkel
Georgia --- Dr. Phillip Roberts
Kansas --- Dr. Stuart Duncan
Louisiana --- Dr. Ralph Bagwell
Mississippi --- Dr. Blake Layton
Missouri --- Dr. Michael Boyd
New Mexico --- Dr. Jane Pierce
North Carolina --- Dr. Jack Bacheler
Oklahoma --- Dr. Miles Karner
South Carolina --- Dr. Mitchell Roof
Tennessee --- Dr. Scott Stewart
Texas --- Dr. James Leser
Virginia --- Dr. Ames Herbert