Value of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Seed Treatments in Mid-South Soybean (Glycine max) Production Systems

Early-season insect management is complex in the Mid-South region of the United States. A complex of multiple pest species generally occurs simultaneously at subthreshold levels in most fields. Neonicotinoids are the only insecticide seed treatment widely used in soybean, Glycine max L., production. An analysis was performed on 170 trials conducted in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee from 2005 to 2014 to determine the impact of neonicotinoid seed treatments in soybean. The analysis compared soybean seed treated with a neonicotinoid insecticide and a fungicide with soybean seed only treated with the same fungicide. When analyzed by state, soybean yields were significantly greater in all states when neonicotinoid seed treatments were used compared with fungicide-only treatments. Soybean treated with neonicotinoid treatments yielded 112.0 kg ha(-1), 203.0 kg ha(-1), 165.0 kg ha(-1), and 70.0 kg ha(-1), higher than fungicide-only treatments for Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, respectively. Across all states, neonicotinoid seed treatments yielded 132.0 kg ha(-1) more than with fungicide-only treated seed. Net returns from neonicotinoid seed treatment usage were US$1,203 per ha(-1) compared with US$1,172 per ha(-1) for fungicide-only treated seed across the Mid-South. However, economic returns for neonicotinoid seed treatments were significantly greater than fungicide-only treated seed in 4 out of the 10 yr. When analyzed by state economic returns the neonicotinoid seed treatments were significantly greater than fungicide-only treated seed in Louisiana and Mississippi. These data show that in some areas and years, neonicotinoid seed treatments provide significant economic benefits in Mid-South soybean.