Historically, the boll weevil was the most important cotton insect pest in Tennessee.  A boll weevil eradication program was initiated in 2000, and eradication efforts have now eliminated this pest. Tennessee is currently in the post-eradication phase of the program. In the spring of 2009, Tennessee cotton producers passed a new eradication referendum.  The ten-year referendum allows a maximum, annual assessment of no more than $5 per acre of cotton to maintain boll weevil eradication. Recently, this fee has been less than $2 per acre. Producers are annually assessed this fee for monitoring boll weevils to detect any reinfestations that may occur.

Additional information about boll weevil eradication is available at: