Value of Neonicotinoid Insecticides In MS Cotton Jeff Gore – MSU, DREC, Stoneville

What are Neonicotinoids? A class of insecticides that work on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Systemic Nerve Poisons Examples: –Imidacloprid (Admire Pro, Gaucho, Aeris, etc.) –Thiamethoxam (Centric, Cruiser, Avicta, etc.) –Clothianidin (Belay, Nipsit INSIDE, Poncho) –Acetamiprid (Intruder)

What are they used for? Seed Treatment: Thrips Foliar Spray: Tarnished Plant Bug, Cotton Aphid

Foliar Insect Control: MS Delta Cost ($ per Acre) Bollgard BWE Resistance

Applications for Tarnished Plant Bug No. Per Acre

Lb ai / A Evolution of Insecticide Use Rates

Aphid Applications Correlation Between Lygus Control and Aphid Control Lygus Applications r =

Mite Applications Correlation Between Lygus Control and Mite Control Lygus Applications r =

Why is it important to know their value? European Union uses the Precautionary Principle U.S. EPA uses a Risk-Benefit analysis Currently, a lot of research focused on the risks of all insecticides, but little research on their benefits

Declining Pollinator Health Several proposed causal mechanisms –Viral pathogens –Parasitic mites –Pesticides Many agrichemical compounds have been detected in honey bee wax and pollen samples of bees managed near agricultural environments.

Dow AgroSciences Sulfoxaflor Section 18 in 2012 Section 3 Registration in oz/A True Bugs: cotton aphid, tarnished plant bug

Tarnished Plant Bug Key pest of cotton in the Mid-South Average 6-7 sprays per acre annually Highs range from Often high rates and tank mixes

Recommended Insecticides ClassExamplesResistance PyrethroidAmmo, Karate, Brigade, etc. Yes OrganophosphateBidrin, AcephateYes CarbamateVydateYes NeonicotinoidCentric, Admire Pro, Intruder No IGRDiamondNo SulfoxamineTransformNo Pyridine Carboxamide CarbineNo

Objective To determine the value of neonicotinoid insecticides in Mid-South cotton

Materials and Methods Treatments: 1) No Neonicotinoids 2) Neonicotinoids 3)Neonicotinoids + Sulfoxaflor Planted: May 20, 2013 – Bollgard II Harvested: October 11, 2013

Materials and Methods Plots Scouted twice per week Insects controlled based on MSU recommendations/thresholds All other agronomic practices were the same across treatments (Fertilizer, Herbicides, Defoliant, Irrigation, etc.)

Number Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Thrips Sprays

Insecticides Used - Thrips NeonicsNeonics + TransformNo Neonics Aeris (Imidacloprid) Fungicide + Nematicide + Orthene (1.1 lbs) Bidrin (3.2 oz) Dimethoate (6.4 oz) Imidacloprid (2.0 oz) Acephate (0.22 lbs) Centric (2.0 oz)Transform (1.5 oz)Bidrin (3.2 oz) Imidacloprid (2) + Diamond (6) Acephate (0.55 lbs) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4)Transform (1.5)Vydate (17 oz) Endigo (5.5) + Portal (16)Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4)Acephate (1.1) + Diamond (6) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4) Bidrin (8) + Carbine (2) + Portal (16) Zeal (1 oz) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4) Bidrin (8) + Diamond (6)

Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Tarnished Plant Bug Percent of Threshold =Spray triggered for tarnished plant bug

Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Spider Mites (0=None, 1=Low, 2=Spray, 3=Very High) Rating (0-3) =Spray triggered for spider mite

Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Cotton Aphid (0=None, 1=Low, 2=Spray, 3=Very High) Rating (0-3) =Spray triggered for cotton aphid

Insecticides Used – Pre-Flower NeonicsNeonics + TransformNo Neonics Aeris Fungicide + Nematicide + Orthene (1.1 lbs) Bidrin (3.2 oz) Dimethoate (6.4 oz) Imidacloprid (2.0 oz) Acephate (0.22 lbs) Centric (2.0 oz)Transform (1.5 oz)Bidrin (3.2 oz) Imidacloprid (2) + Diamond (6) Acephate (0.55 lbs) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4)Transform (1.5)Vydate (17 oz) Endigo (5.5) + Portal (16)Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4)Acephate (1.1) + Diamond (6) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4) Bidrin (8) + Carbine (2) + Portal (16) Zeal (1 oz) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4) Bidrin (8) + Diamond (6)

Insecticides Used –Flowering NeonicsNeonics + TransformNo Neonics Aeris Fungicide + Nematicide + Orthene (1.1 lbs) Bidrin (3.2 oz) Dimethoate (6.4 oz) Imidacloprid (2.0 oz) Acephate (0.22 lbs) Centric (2.0 oz)Transform (1.5 oz)Bidrin (3.2 oz) Imidacloprid (2) + Diamond (6) Acephate (0.55 lbs) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4)Transform (1.5)Vydate (17 oz) Endigo (5.5) + Portal (16)Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4)Acephate (1.1) + Diamond (6) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4) Bidrin (8) + Carbine (2) + Portal (16) Zeal (1 oz) Acephate (1.1) + Bifenthrin (6.4) Bidrin (8) + Diamond (6)

Pounds Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Active Ingredient per Acre

Dollars per Acre Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Insecticide + Application Costs

Lbs Lint per Acre Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Yield NS

Dollars per Acre Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Gross Returns (Cotton = $0.7818) ~ $90.00

Fixed Costs – MSU Budget Seed Technology Fees (Bollgard II/Roundup Flex) Fungicide/Nematicide Seed Treatments Fertilizer Scouting Weed Control Plant Growth Regulators Eradication Defoliation Labor Diesel and Maintenance Other Fixed Costs (Equipment, etc.) Gin & Haul

Dollars per Acre Value of Neonicotinoids in MS Cotton Net Returns

Million Acres Planted Cotton Acres from Selected States USDA-NASS Initial decline due to commodity prices Input Costs

Million Acres Planted Cotton Acres from Selected States USDA-NASS Without Neonicotinoids

Acknowledgements Larry Falconer, MSU Extension Economist –Economic analysis Chip Graham, Bayer CropScience –Provided seed with the different seed treatments Cotton Incorporated National Cotton Council MSU MAFES and ES

Jeff Gore, Delta Research and Extension Center (662)