2014 Soybean Insect Losses in the Southern US

Survey-based soybean insect losses were collected following the 2014 growing season to provide a record of insect pressure and soybean management practices for the year. This survey has been done annually in all participating states for at least the last 4 years and since 2004 in Mississippi. The 2014 survey represents more than 11 million soybean acres across the southern United States. Overall, the 2014 survey showed corn earworm to be the most costly insect pest in the region for the fourth consecutive year, but stink bug was the most expensive insect pest in five of the seven surveyed states. The stink bug and armyworm complexes were the second and third most costly insect pests overall, respectively, followed by bean leaf beetle and soybean looper. The proportion of soybean fields scouted increased to 65% while the proportion of soybeans planted with insecticide seed treatments decreased slightly to 64%. The number of foliar insecticide applications continued a decreasing trend to an average of 1.38 applications during 2014. Estimated yield losses from insects during 2014 were 4.09%, or $20.47/acre. An additional $23.78/acre was spent on insect monitoring and protection, giving a total insect losses plus costs of $44.25/acre during 2014, lower than the impact of insects during each of the previous 4 years.