Soybean Invertebrate Loss Estimates from the United States — 2023

Soybean invertebrate pests (insects, mites, and mollusks) annually reduce yield and require economic investment to manage in the United States. Pest importance varies yearly, and pest development and yield loss are based on many factors, including weather conditions, crop production practices, and variety selection and susceptibility to pests. This publication documents the estimated yield loss caused by invertebrate pests and the economic expenditures on pest management efforts, such as foliar insecticide application, insecticide seed treatment, and field scouting.

Public sector entomologists and other specialists in 19 soybean-producing states estimated the percent yield loss caused by and management costs associated with invertebrate pests in their respective states. The reporting states account for 2.6 billion bushels (62.6 percent) of the total soybean produced in the United States in 2023. The relative proportion of bushels produced in states reporting data is shown in Figure 1. The yield loss estimates include pests that injure roots, stems, leaves, and pods. In 2023, Missouri and Maryland began submitting data, while Oklahoma did not provide data as in previous years.

This publication documents the impact of invertebrate pests on soybean production during 2023, based on yield loss estimates and management costs supplied by state specialists, alone or in consultation with Extension educators or industry employees. Invertebrate loss values were derived using yield before losses in individual states. The at-planting preventative management cost (use of a neonicotinoid seed treatment, NST) was determined by multiplying the number of acres treated by the per acre cost of an NST. Scouting costs were determined the same way, using a per-acre cost for scouting. In-season management costs (replanting a damaged stand or applying a foliar insecticide) were determined by multiplying the cost of a single treatment by the number of acres treated. When acres were sprayed more than once, each application counted as an acre treated. Data on planted acres, price, and production were obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture – National Agricultural Statistics Service.

2023 Invertebrate Pest Losses

The United States produced nearly 4.2 billion bushels of soybean in 2023; the value of this crop was more than $52.8 billion USD. In 2023, invertebrate pests reduced soybean bushels by 1.6 percent across the 19 states reporting data. Additionally, overall management costs (at plant and in-season) were estimated at $669.3 million USD, which includes non-targeted insecticide applications. Stink bugs (Figure 2) reduced yield more than any other invertebrate pest in 2023, followed by corn earworm, soybean looper, bean leaf beetle, and green cloverworm. Table 1 provides numeric yield loss and targeted foliar insecticide application or replanting cost estimates for all invertebrate pests reported in the survey, while Figure 3 visualizes the yield loss proportionally by pest. Table 2 shows per acre estimated management costs by state. 

Table 1. Estimated soybean yield losses and costs of applying a targeted foliar insecticide or replanting a damaged stand due to specific invertebrate pests in 19 U.S. states during the 2023 growing season.

¹Does not include costs associated with seed treatments, crop scouting, and untargeted foliar insecticide application. The reported value consists primarily of foliar insecticide application but can include replant costs as a result of damage by pests such as slugs and seedcorn maggot.

Table 2. Estimated overall per acre management costs due to invertebrate pests in 19 U.S. soybean-producing states during the 2023 growing season.

¹ Includes insecticide applications targeted for specific pests and non-targeted applications consisting mainly of a pyrethroid insecticide tank-mixed with a fungicide or herbicide.

Invertebrate Pests in the Southern Region

(Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia)

This region represented 15.6% of the soybean production in the U.S. in 2023. The overall loss due to invertebrate pests in southern states in 2023 was 4.7%, or 31.7 million bushels. Multiple species of stink bugs caused the greatest loss, followed by corn earworm (Table 3). Soybean looper, bean leaf beetle, and threecornered alfalfa hopper caused the next greatest losses in descending order. 

Table 3. Estimated soybean yield losses due to the five most significant invertebrate pests in southern soybean growing U.S. states¹ in 2023 and associated targeted foliar insecticide costs.

¹ Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

² Does not include costs associated with seed treatments, crop scouting, and untargeted foliar insecticide application. The reported value consists primarily of foliar insecticide application.

Invertebrate Pests in the Great Lakes Region

(Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin)

This region represented 11.4% of the soybean production in the U.S. in 2023. The overall loss due to invertebrate pests in the Great Lakes region in 2023 was 0.8%, or 3.6 million bushels. Armyworms caused the greatest estimated yield reduction (Table 4). Grasshoppers and Japanese beetle caused the next greatest losses, in descending order.

Table 4. Estimated soybean yield losses due to the five most significant invertebrate pests reported to have caused losses in Great Lakes region U.S. states¹ in 2023 and associated targeted foliar insecticide or replanting costs.

¹ Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin

² Does not include costs associated with seed treatments, crop scouting, and untargeted foliar insecticide application. The reported value consists primarily of foliar insecticide application but can include replant costs for some pests such as slugs.  

Invertebrate Pests in the Western Region

(Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri)

This region represented 35.7% of the soybean production in the U.S. in 2023. The overall loss due to invertebrate pests in the northern region in 2023 was 0.5%, or 7.2 million bushels. Bean leaf beetle caused the greatest estimated yield reduction, followed by stink bugs, green cloverworm, spider mites, and corn earworm (Table 5).

Table 5. Estimated soybean yield losses due to the five most significant invertebrate pests in western soybean growing U.S. states¹ in 2023 and associated targeted foliar insecticide or replanting costs.

¹ Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri

² Does not include costs associated with seed treatments, crop scouting, and untargeted foliar insecticide application. The reported value consists primarily of foliar insecticide application but can include replant costs for some pests such as slugs.  

Summary

These data are helpful in creating a partial picture of yield losses and economic expenditures caused by invertebrate pests in soybeans. It is limited in that it represents a little more than half of the soybean bushels produced in the U.S., as data were unavailable from several soybean-producing states. However, it does provide a summary of the most important invertebrate pests to soybean production in 2023 for the geography represented. It highlights the impact invertebrate pests have in soybean production, and the differences in key pest species and level of injury from region to region, underscoring the need for continued efforts in crop protection research and education.

Disclaimer

The invertebrate pest loss estimates in this publication were provided by the authors. This information is only a guide. The values in this publication are only estimates of soybean yield losses or economic costs due to invertebrate pests. The authors assume no liability resulting from the use of these estimates.

Values in this document were accurate when reported and do not reflect corrections or updates occurring since that time. For the most up-to-date values and additional information on yield and economic losses due to invertebrate pests, see the Field Crop Disease and Insect Loss Calculator.

References

Data used in this publication will also be published in a different format in the journal Midsouth Entomologist by Musser et al., which will provide further detail regarding losses.

Production data from the United States Department of Agriculture-National Agriculture Statistics Service. Accessed July 2024.

Acknowledgements

Authors

Adam Sisson, Crop Protection Network; Fred Musser and Whitney Crow, Mississippi State University; Emily Bick, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Sebe Brown, University of Tennessee; Jeff A. Davis, Louisiana State University; Chris DiFonzo, Michigan State University; Chase Floyd, University of Missouri; Scott H. Graham, Auburn University; Jeremy K. Greene, Clemson University; Kelly Hamby, University of Maryland; David Kerns, Texas A&M University; Sean Malone, Virginia Tech; David Owens, University of Delaware; Dominic D. Reisig, North Carolina State University; Phillip Roberts, University of Georgia; Nicholas J. Seiter, University of Illinois; Benjamin Thrash, University of Arkansas; Kelly Tilmon, The Ohio State University; and Raul T. Villanueva, University of Kentucky.

Reviewers

Daren Mueller, Iowa State University and Kiersten Wise, University of Kentucky

Sponsors

The authors thank the United Soybean Board and the United States Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) for supporting Crop Protection Network infrastructure and resources.