Monitoring to evaluate continued susceptibility of pests to pesticides is an important part of any pest management program. Thrips are known for their ability to develop resistance to insecticides. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, has developed resistance to many of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) chemical classes. The development of resistance in Florida [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_14736" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-14736" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2015/07/Funderburk-Fig-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="wp-image-14736 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Figure 1. Tobacco thrips injury to seedling peanuts. Joe Funderburk, Danielle Sprague, and Mrittunjai Srivistava, North Florida REC. Quincy, Florida " width="700" height="1050" data-src="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2015/07/Funderburk-Fig-1.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-14736" class="wp-caption-text">Figure 1. Tobacco thrips injury to seedling peanuts. Joe Funderburk, Danielle Sprague, and Mrittunjai Srivistava, North Florida REC. Quincy, Florida</figcaption></figure>
Monitoring to evaluate continued susceptibility of pests to pesticides is an important part of any pest management program. Thrips are known for their ability to develop resistance to insecticides. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, has developed resistance to many of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) chemical classes.
The development of resistance in Florida of the western flower thrips to field rates of the spinosyn insecticides (IRAC Group 5) is a tremendous concern. The spinosyns provided very high levels of efficacy against thrips pests for over ten years. The neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid (IRAC Group 4) has been used for control of the western flower thrips in fruiting vegetables. Recently, we started a resistance monitoring program to evaluate the susceptibility of the western flower thrips to acetamiprid. We have assayed several western thrips populations in Florida to date and these results indicated that each was resistant to acetamiprid.
We also began evaluating susceptibility of the tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, to the IRAC Group 4 neonicotinoid insecticides. Several neonicotinoid insecticides are used as seed treatments on field crops including peanuts, soybeans, and cotton, primarily for control of thrips injury to seedlings (Figure 1). There are reports that the tobacco thrips populations in several Southeastern US states have developed resistance to the neonicotinoid insecticides. So far, we have only assayed populations at the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy.
The objective is to refine our bioassay techniques, namely a bean-dip assay and an assay developed at North Carolina State University that evaluates systemic activity. Both assay techniques yielded similar results, namely that the tobacco thrips population at the North Florida Research and Education Center is resistant to imidacloprid.
Seed treatment for thrips control has long been a contentious issue. Soybeans recover from thrips injury without economic damage. Thrips injury in combination with herbicide burn or drought stress can delay maturity. Planting date and other cultural practices affect damage to cotton from thrips injury. Seed treatment as a preventive treatment for thrips has risks beyond that of economic crop loss, namely the development of pest resistance and potential non-target effects to beneficial insect populations.
These results indicating resistance in western flower thrips and tobacco thrips to the neonicotinoid insecticides should be viewed with caution at this point. Our results with tobacco thrips need to be confirmed by other laboratories. The extent of resistance in different populations of tobacco thrips and western flower thrips in Florida needs to be determined. However, our results combined with those from other states suggest concern.
For more information on thrips and the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, please see the following resources:
<a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1089">Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande])</a>
<a href="http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/Tobacco_thrips.pdf">Tobacco thrips</a>
<a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi121">IRAC&#8217;s Insecticide Mode of Action Classification</a>
<a href="http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/Tobacco_thrips.pdf"> </a>

Figure 1. Tobacco thrips injury to seedling peanuts.  Joe Funderburk, Danielle Sprague, and Mrittunjai Srivistava, North Florida REC. Quincy, Florida
Monitoring to evaluate continued susceptibility of pests to pesticides is an important part of any pest management program. Thrips are known for their ability to develop resistance to insecticides. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, has developed resistance to many of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) chemical classes.
The development of resistance in Florida of the western flower thrips to field rates of the spinosyn insecticides (IRAC Group 5) is a tremendous concern. The spinosyns provided very high levels of efficacy against thrips pests for over ten years. The neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid (IRAC Group 4) has been used for control of the western flower thrips in fruiting vegetables. Recently, we started a resistance monitoring program to evaluate the susceptibility of the western flower thrips to acetamiprid. We have assayed several western thrips populations in Florida to date and these results indicated that each was resistant to acetamiprid.
We also began evaluating susceptibility of the tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, to the IRAC Group 4 neonicotinoid insecticides. Several neonicotinoid insecticides are used as seed treatments on field crops including peanuts, soybeans, and cotton, primarily for control of thrips injury to seedlings (Figure 1). There are reports that the tobacco thrips populations in several Southeastern US states have developed resistance to the neonicotinoid insecticides. So far, we have only assayed populations at the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy.
The objective is to refine our bioassay techniques, namely a bean-dip assay and an assay developed at North Carolina State University that evaluates systemic activity. Both assay techniques yielded similar results, namely that the tobacco thrips population at the North Florida Research and Education Center is resistant to imidacloprid.
Seed treatment for thrips control has long been a contentious issue. Soybeans recover from thrips injury without economic damage. Thrips injury in combination with herbicide burn or drought stress can delay maturity. Planting date and other cultural practices affect damage to cotton from thrips injury. Seed treatment as a preventive treatment for thrips has risks beyond that of economic crop loss, namely the development of pest resistance and potential non-target effects to beneficial insect populations.
These results indicating resistance in western flower thrips and tobacco thrips to the neonicotinoid insecticides should be viewed with caution at this point. Our results with tobacco thrips need to be confirmed by other laboratories. The extent of resistance in different populations of tobacco thrips and western flower thrips in Florida needs to be determined. However, our results combined with those from other states suggest concern.
For more information on thrips and the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, please see the following resources:
Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande])
Tobacco thrips
IRAC’s Insecticide Mode of Action Classification

Monitoring to evaluate continued susceptibility of pests to pesticides is an important part of any pest management program. Thrips are known for their ability to develop resistance to insecticides. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, has developed resistance to many of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) chemical classes. The development of resistance in Florida […]

Evaluation of Thrip Resistance to Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Soybean Rust is Around but Not on Soybeans Since its arrival in the United States in 2004, soybean rust has developed into more of a problem in the southeastern U.S, than in other areas of the country. To monitor disease prevalence and spread, soybean rust sentinel plots have been established throughout the southeastern U.S., where [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_11162" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11162" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/08/Soybean-Rust-map.png"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-11162 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Counties in red are where soybean rust has been found as of August 20, 2014." width="700" height="526" data-src="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/08/Soybean-Rust-map.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-11162" class="wp-caption-text">Counties in red are where soybean rust has been found in kudzu, as of August 20, 2014.</figcaption></figure>
<h1>Soybean Rust is Around but Not on Soybeans</h1>
Since its arrival in the United States in 2004, soybean rust has developed into more of a problem in the southeastern U.S, than in other areas of the country. To monitor disease prevalence and spread, soybean rust sentinel plots have been established throughout the southeastern U.S., where the disease has caused the most damage. It is generally widely distributed in the spring after mild winters that allow for its overwintering host, kudzu, to survive. Then, often times, strong storms spread the spores during the growing season. Since 2004 the disease has been found as far north as Erie, Canada, but usually when it gets beyond Tennessee it is late enough in the season that yields are not reduced.
This year we had a cold snap in January (below 20 F in many areas) that killed the kudzu, and thus far, we have not had any major storms to spread the spores we do have. Still, soybean rust has been found on kudzu in 12 counties in Florida so far this year, but none of the soybean sentinel plots have become infected yet. If soybeans were planted in the spring they are probably at R5 or beyond now, and even if they do get infected there will be no reduction in yield. If soybeans were planted late, or were double-cropped they may still be in vegetative growth stages and need to be monitored closely.
Although several Florida counties adjacent to Georgia have soybean rust, none has been found in Georgia this year. Alabama has several counties with rust, and one soybean sentinel plot there was found to be infected early in August. Mississippi also has not found any soybean rust yet this year. So far it looks like the disease is most wide spread on kudzu in coastal Louisiana (where apparently it survived even though the kudzu was killed by a winter cold spell) and central and north Florida. The red counties in the map above were positive for soybean rust as of August 20, 2014.
Overall, it looks like soybean rust is not going to be much of a problem for most soybean growers this year. This is in contrast to 2013 when soybean rust was found in 408 counties and 13 states. The public website for monitoring the progress of soybean rust is <a href="http://sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi">http://sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi</a>.
With all that said, however, the tropics (as of August 20) have a low pressure area off the Windward Islands. Some models predict it may enter the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. If it does, things could quickly change. It is believed that soybean rust has been spread long distances by major tropical storms.
For information on management and control of Soybean Rust and other disease of soybeans, download the: <a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/08/2014-Georgia-Soybean-Disease-Guide.pdf">2014 Georgia Soybean Disease Guide</a>
<a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/08/Soybean-Rust.png"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-11167 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Soybean Rust" width="700" height="501" data-src="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/08/Soybean-Rust.png"></a>

Counties in red are where soybean rust has been found in kudzu, as of August 20, 2014.
Soybean Rust is Around but Not on Soybeans
Since its arrival in the United States in 2004, soybean rust has developed into more of a problem in the southeastern U.S, than in other areas of the country.  To monitor disease prevalence and spread, soybean rust sentinel plots have been established throughout the southeastern U.S., where the disease has caused the most damage.  It is generally widely distributed in the spring after mild winters that allow for its overwintering host, kudzu, to survive. Then, often times, strong storms spread the spores during the growing season. Since 2004 the disease has been found as far north as Erie, Canada, but usually when it gets beyond Tennessee it is late enough in the season that yields are not reduced.
This year we had a cold snap in January (below 20 F in many areas) that killed the kudzu, and thus far, we have not had any major storms to spread the spores we do have. Still, soybean rust has been found on kudzu in 12 counties in Florida so far this year, but none of the soybean sentinel plots have become infected yet. If soybeans were planted in the spring they are probably at R5 or beyond now, and even if they do get infected there will be no reduction in yield. If soybeans were planted late, or were double-cropped they may still be in vegetative growth stages and need to be monitored closely.
Although several Florida counties adjacent to Georgia have soybean rust, none has been found in Georgia this year. Alabama has several counties with rust, and one soybean sentinel plot there was found to be infected early in August. Mississippi also has not found any soybean rust yet this year. So far it looks like the disease is most wide spread on kudzu in coastal Louisiana (where apparently it survived even though the kudzu was killed by a winter cold spell) and central and north Florida. The red counties in the map above were positive for soybean rust as of August 20, 2014.
Overall, it looks like soybean rust is not going to be much of a problem for most soybean growers this year.  This is in contrast to 2013 when soybean rust was found in 408 counties and 13 states. The public website for monitoring the progress of soybean rust is http://sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi.
With all that said, however, the tropics (as of August 20) have a low pressure area off the Windward Islands. Some models predict it may enter the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. If it does, things could quickly change. It is believed that soybean rust has been spread long distances by major tropical storms.
For information on management and control of Soybean Rust and other disease of soybeans, download the:  2014 Georgia Soybean Disease Guide

Soybean Rust is Around but Not on Soybeans Since its arrival in the United States in 2004, soybean rust has developed into more of a problem in the southeastern U.S, than in other areas of the country. To monitor disease prevalence and spread, soybean rust sentinel plots have been established throughout the southeastern U.S., where […]

Soybean Rust Update

It’s February and time to make some real decisions about what to plant and how many acres to plant. Many factors go into determining the right fit for any producer, but the bottom line is profitability. To help producers make informed choices, it’s always good to look at enterprise budgets and crop comparison tools. The [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_8472" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8472" style="width: 809px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/02/Peanut-vs-Cotton-Comparison.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-8472 lazyload" alt="* The above chart is based on the following assumptions: 1)Irrigated peanut is compared to irrigated cotton and non-irrigated peanut is compared to non-irrigated cotton. 2)Irrigated peanut yield is 4700 lbs. and irrigated cotton yield is 1200 lbs. 3)Non-irrigated peanut yield is 3400 lbs. and non-irrigated cotton yield is 750 lbs. 4)Prices shown are those needed to cover budgeted operating costs for conventional till production listed in the crop comparison tool. " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" width="809" height="471" data-src="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/02/Peanut-vs-Cotton-Comparison.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8472" class="wp-caption-text">* This conventional tillage chart is based on the following assumptions: 1) Irrigated peanut is compared to irrigated cotton and non-irrigated peanut is compared to non-irrigated cotton. 2) Irrigated peanut yield is 4700 lbs. and irrigated cotton yield is 1200 lbs. 3) Non-irrigated peanut yield is 3400 lbs. and non-irrigated cotton yield is 750 lbs. 4) Prices shown are those needed to cover budgeted operating costs for conventional till production listed in the crop comparison tool.</figcaption></figure>
It’s February and time to make some real decisions about what to plant and how many acres to plant. Many factors go into determining the right fit for any producer, but the bottom line is profitability. To help producers make informed choices, it’s always good to look at enterprise budgets and crop comparison tools.
The University of Georgia Extension Economists have developed some very interesting spreadsheet tools that, while focused on crops and production practices of South Georgia, are also very useful for row crop producers throughout the Florida panhandle. Growers can look at cost comparisons of cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and wheat crop estimates based on conventional and strip till systems on irrigated or non-irrigated land. Growers can adjust the yields, prices, and costs on the spreadsheets to reflect their management and pricing situation. Other useful tools include a peanut price calculator that allows you, the grower, to input expected yield per acre, amount of pounds you contracted and the respective contract price, and the expectation of harvest price. The peanut price calculator should be used to calculate the true peanut price. Note there is a different price for irrigated and non-irrigated peanuts. This is because of an assumed contract based on a portion of yield rather than the entire production. The Price Comparison tool allows you to see, in graph form, equal returns above variable costs between corn, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans in strip till and conventional tillage systems.
To access this excellent resource, please see the updated website: <a href="http://www.caes.uga.edu/Applications/attachments/index.cfm?referenceInterface=FILE_SET&amp;PK_ID=2313&amp;subInterface=detail_main&amp;view=public">2014 Crop Comparison Tool. </a>Direct access to the 2014 budgets, updated in February, which are the basis for the numbers in the crop comparison tool, can be found at the following links:
The PDF version is availabe to simply print and look over the information. You will not be able to change the numbers. 
<ul>
<li>
<h2><a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/02/Feb-2014-UGA-Crop-Comparison-PDF.pdf">Feb 2014 UGA Crop Comparison PDF Version</a></h2>
</li>
</ul>
 Use the Excel (.xlsx or .xls) files below if you want to change the numbers and plug in your own information to maximize the usefulness of this tool:
For computers with the latest editions of Excel: Microsoft Office Excel 2013 or 2007
<ul>
<li>
<h2><a href="http://www.caes.uga.edu/Applications/attachments/files/2014%20Crop%20Comparison%20Estimates1%2Exlsx">Feb 14 UGA Crop Comparison </a>.xlsx files</h2>
</li>
</ul>
For computers with earlier editions of Excel: Microsoft Office Excel 2003 or earlier
<ul>
<li>
<h2><a href="http://www.caes.uga.edu/Applications/attachments/files/2014%20Crop%20Comparison%20Estimates1%2Exls">Feb 14 UGA Crop Comparison </a>.xls files</h2>
</li>
</ul>
Alabama Extension also has some useful budget tools:
<ul>
<li>
<h2><a href="http://www.aces.edu/agriculture/business-management/budgets/2011/rowcrops_php_MMtmp60675f56/rowcrops.php">2014 Enterprise Planning Budgets for Major Row Crops in Alabama</a></h2>
</li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_8473" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8473" style="width: 807px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/02/Cotton-vs-Peanut-2014.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-8473 lazyload" alt="* The above chart is based on the following assumptions: 1)Irrigated cotton is compared to irrigated peanut and non-irrigated cotton is compared to non-irrigated peanut. 2)Irrigated cotton yield is 1200 lbs. and irrigated peanut yield is 4700 lbs. 3)Non-irrigated cotton yield is 750 lbs. and non-irrigated peanut yield is 3400 lbs. 4)Prices shown are those needed to cover budgeted operating costs for conventional till production listed in the crop comparison tool. " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" width="807" height="463" data-src="http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/nwdistrictmedia/phag/2014/02/Cotton-vs-Peanut-2014.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8473" class="wp-caption-text">* This conventional tillage chart is based on the following assumptions: 1) Irrigated cotton is compared to irrigated peanut and non-irrigated cotton is compared to non-irrigated peanut. 2) Irrigated cotton yield is 1200 lbs. and irrigated peanut yield is 4700 lbs. 3) Non-irrigated cotton yield is 750 lbs. and non-irrigated peanut yield is 3400 lbs. 4) Prices shown are those needed to cover budgeted operating costs for conventional till production listed in the crop comparison tool.</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;

* This conventional tillage chart is based on the following assumptions:
1) Irrigated peanut is compared to irrigated cotton and non-irrigated peanut is compared to non-irrigated cotton.
2) Irrigated peanut yield is 4700 lbs. and irrigated cotton yield is 1200 lbs.
3) Non-irrigated peanut yield is 3400 lbs. and non-irrigated cotton yield is 750 lbs.
4) Prices shown are those needed to cover budgeted operating costs for conventional till production listed in the crop comparison tool.
It’s February and time to make some real decisions about what to plant and how many acres to plant.  Many factors go into determining the right fit for any producer, but the bottom line is profitability.  To help producers make informed choices, it’s always good to look at enterprise budgets and crop comparison tools.
The University of Georgia Extension Economists have developed some very interesting spreadsheet tools that, while focused on crops and production practices of South Georgia, are also very useful for row crop producers throughout the Florida panhandle.  Growers can look at cost comparisons of cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and wheat crop estimates based on conventional and strip till systems on irrigated or non-irrigated land.  Growers can adjust the yields, prices, and costs on the spreadsheets to reflect their management and pricing situation.  Other useful tools include a peanut price calculator that allows you, the grower, to input expected yield per acre, amount of pounds you contracted and the respective contract price, and the expectation of harvest price.  The peanut price calculator should be used to calculate the true peanut price. Note there is a different price for irrigated and non-irrigated peanuts. This is because of an assumed contract based on a portion of yield rather than the entire production.  The Price Comparison tool allows you to see, in graph form, equal returns above variable costs between corn, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans in strip till and conventional tillage systems.
To access this excellent resource, please see the updated website:  2014 Crop Comparison Tool.  Direct access to the 2014 budgets, updated in February, which are the basis for the numbers in the crop comparison tool, can be found at the following links:
The PDF version is availabe to simply print and look over the information.  You will not be able to change the numbers. 
Feb 2014 UGA Crop Comparison PDF Version
 Use the Excel (.xlsx or .xls) files below if you want to change the numbers and plug in your own information to maximize the usefulness of this tool:
For computers with the latest editions of Excel:  Microsoft Office Excel 2013 or 2007
Feb 14 UGA Crop Comparison .xlsx files
For computers with earlier editions of Excel:  Microsoft Office Excel 2003 or earlier
Feb 14 UGA Crop Comparison .xls files
Alabama Extension also has some useful budget tools:
2014 Enterprise Planning Budgets for Major Row Crops in Alabama
* This conventional tillage chart is based on the following assumptions:
1) Irrigated cotton is compared to irrigated peanut and non-irrigated cotton is compared to non-irrigated peanut.
2) Irrigated cotton yield is 1200 lbs. and irrigated peanut yield is 4700 lbs.
3) Non-irrigated cotton yield is 750 lbs. and non-irrigated peanut yield is 3400 lbs.
4) Prices shown are those needed to cover budgeted operating costs for conventional till production listed in the crop comparison tool.

It’s February and time to make some real decisions about what to plant and how many acres to plant. Many factors go into determining the right fit for any producer, but the bottom line is profitability. To help producers make informed choices, it’s always good to look at enterprise budgets and crop comparison tools. The […]

2014 Row Crop Comparison Tools and Budgets

Beans

Granos

Vegetable Legumes

Legumbres vegetales

Primarily soybeans, and other crops such as peanuts, cottonseed, sunflower seed, flaxseed, safflower seed, rapeseed, sesame seed, castor beans, canola, rapeseed, and mustard seeds used to produce edible and/or inedible oils, as well as high-protein animal meal.
Oil-bearing crops or oil crops include both annual (usually called oilseeds) and perennial plants whose seeds, fruits or mesocarp and nuts are valued mainly for the edible or industrial oils that are extracted from them.

Soybeans

Narrower Topics

Publications

Soybean Production in Florida

Production of Biofuel Crops in Florida: Soybean

Related IFAS Blog Posts

Evaluation of Thrip Resistance to Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Soybean Rust Update

2014 Row Crop Comparison Tools and Budgets

Related Pages

Soybeans

Narrower Topics

Soybean Pest Management

Soybean Pest Insects

Publications

Soybean Production in Florida

Production of Biofuel Crops in Florida: Soybean

Related IFAS Blog Posts

Evaluation of Thrip Resistance to Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Soybean Rust Update

2014 Row Crop Comparison Tools and Budgets

Related Pages