Stink Bugs Still Persist in the Latest Cotton

Article by Jack Bacheler. We’ll report soon on the results of our damaged boll survey and find out how bollworms and stink bugs treated our cotton producers in 2012. With this survey, every year brings some surprises. Last year I … Continue reading

Cotton Insects Winding Down

Article by Jack Bacheler. We have finally reached the point when the vast majority of cotton fields are fully cut-out and opening, and are therefore no longer vulnerable to insect damage. Additionally, the remaining upper bolls that still can be … Continue reading

Bollworm Counts Everywhere, Stink Bugs Nearly Done in Cotton

Article by Jack Bacheler. When one looks at the variability in light trap catches for bollworm moths and the huge differences in cotton field maturity across the state, you almost get a sense of what the blind folks were talking … Continue reading

Late Season Bollworm and Stink Bugs Holding at Bay

Article by Jack Bacheler This past week I’ve been amazed to see cotton and soybean fields that are safe from further potential damage from stink bugs and caterpillars and other fields that appear very vulnerable to possible insect damage. We … Continue reading

Late-Season Cotton Pest Management Recommendations

Article by Jack Bacheler Our major point of emphasis during the next three or so weeks will the differential impact of late season pests on crops based on attractiveness and maturity. Our late corn earworm (bollworm) moth flight will be … Continue reading

Stink Bugs Holding at Bay in Cotton, Bollworm Pressure Low

Article by Jack Bacheler. Our variable insect levels and relative pest rankings continue on cotton. Additional untreated cotton fields reached threshold for stink bugs this past week, with probably more sprayed than unsprayed fields in North Carolina now. Several consultants … Continue reading

Plant Bugs and Cotton Aphids An Issue in Some Cotton

Article by Jack Bacheler In addition to stink bugs, plant bugs appear to be on the high side in some eastern county cotton fields, with one report of 50% dirty blooms in Chowan County. Although we do not recommend treating … Continue reading

Cotton Pest Variability High

Article by Jack Bacheler Like our rainfall patterns, insect levels appeared to be all over the map this past week, with each consultant or grower sharing a different story. With light trap catches still surprisingly low in most areas, cotton … Continue reading

Stink Bugs Pounding Cotton- What to Spray

Article by Jack Bacheler As we have mentioned in previous articles, this could be a big year for stink bugs in cotton and perhaps soybean. It certainly seems to be playing out that way. In some areas we appear to … Continue reading

Do We Need To Adjust Our Thresholds With $16 Soybeans?

The short answer is NO!  Read on for a more detailed explanation. Economic thresholds are based on the concept of economic injury.  Economic injury is the point at which the cost of a management action is equal to the injury … Continue reading