Resources

Cotton Insect Losses - 2014

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

Key To Tables

Table 1 -- USDA yield estimates
Table 1a -- USDA/NASS planting and harvest acres
Table 2 -- At planting insecticide applications
Table 3 -- Cotton insect eradication costs
Table 4 -- Bt cotton costs by state
Table 5 -- Types of cotton
Table 6 -- Cotton insect monitoring costs
Table 7 -- Application Technology
Table 8 -- Summary of All States
Table 9 -- Alabama Summary
Table 9a -- North Alabama
Table 9b -- South Alabama
Table 10 -- Arizona Summary
Table 10a -- Arizona Bt
Table 10b -- Arizona nonBt
Table 11 -- Arkansas Summary
Table 11a -- Northeast Arkansas
Table 11b -- Southeast Arkansas
Table 12 -- California Summary
Table 13 -- Florida Summary

Table 14 -- Georgia Summary
Table 15 -- Kansas Summary
Table 16 -- Louisiana Summary
Table 17 -- Mississippi Summary
Table 17a -- Mississippi Delta
Table 17b -- Mississippi Hills
Table 18 -- Missouri Summary
Table 19 -- New Mexico Summary
Table 20 -- North Carolina Summary
Table 21 -- Oklahoma Summary
Table 22 -- South Carolina Summary
Table 23 -- Tennessee Summary
Table 24 -- Texas Summary
Table 24a -- Texas Coast & Blacklands
Table 24b -- Texas Rolling Plains
Table 24c -- Far West & High Plains
Table 25 -- Virginia Summary
Table 26 -- Southeast Area States
Table 27 -- MidSouth Area States
Table 28 -- Central Area States
Table 29 -- Western Area States
Texas areas

Explanation of Tables

In an attempt at capturing as many of the costs of insect management as possible, the Cotton Insect Losses estimates have changed in the last few years. They were begun as a simple attempt to arrive at the `average cost of spraying insecticide` for control of cotton arthropod pests. We still 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 and the seed surcharge) `eradication costs`(which include the maintenance fee in those states which have eradicated the weevil and other eradication projects) and `scouting costs` to the traditional `foliar insecticide costs`. Bales lost are also given a dollar value using 480 pound bales at the average per pound price. 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.

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 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. 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.

Highlights

Cotton losses to arthropod pests reduced overall yields by 2.38%. Lygus were the top ranked pest in 2014 reducing yields by 0.829%. Thrips were ranked second at 0.417%. Stink bugs were ranked third at 0.411%. Bollworm/budworm complex were fourth at 0319%. Cotton fleahopper caused 0.134% loss and spider mites reduced yields by 0.118%. No other pest exceeded 0.1% loss. Total costs and losses for insects in 2014 were $646.9 million. Direct management costs for arthropods were $34.07 per acre.

State Coordinators

Alabama --- Dr. Timothy Reed
Arkansas --- Dr. Gus Lorenz
Arizona --- Dr. Peter Ellsworth
California --- Dr. Peter Goodell
Florida --- Dr. Mike Donahoe
Georgia --- Dr. Phillip Roberts
Kansas --- Dr. Stuart Duncan
Louisiana --- Dr. David Kern
Mississippi --- Dr. Angus Catchot

Missouri --- Dr. Moneen Jones
New Mexico --- Dr. Jane Pierce
North Carolina --- Dr. Dominic Reisig
Oklahoma --- Dr. Jerry Goodson
South Carolina --- Dr. Jeremy Green
Tennessee --- Dr. Scott Stewart
Texas --- Dr. Charles Allen
Virginia --- Dr. Ames Herbert

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