Estimated insect management costs and losses due to insects in soybean during the 2020 growing season were collected and compiled from 18 states to provide a record of insect pressure and management practices for the year. These annual estimates provide a historical record of pest pressure and insect management and have been compiled in some states since 2004. Participating states represented 48% of soybean acreage grown in the United States, with near 100% participation in southern states. Overall, the stink bug complex was the costliest insect pest in soybean followed by corn earworm. Total insect management costs were 15. 80 per acre, with estimated crop losses to insects at 13. 85 per acre, making the 2020 total costs plus losses 29. 65 per acre. State estimates varied widely, with insect management costs in five states averaging less than 10/ac, while averaging more than 40/ac in two states. Similarly, the estimated yield losses from insects ranged from less than 10/ac in four states to more than 50/ac in two states.
Musser et al. (2021) studied this question.