Over one million acres of soybean are usually grown in Tennessee, more than any other crop.  Average yields typically range from 30 – 70 bushels per acre, with 2 -5% yield loss being attributed to insect injury.  Estimated, statewide insect control costs usually range from $10 – 25 per acre.  Most soybean are grown in the Western and Middle Tennessee.  A number of arthropods may cause economic damage to soybean, but stink bugs, corn earworm, threecornered alfalfa hoppers, and a complex of defoliating insect pests are the most common pests.  The following site provides treatment threshold and insecticide recommendations for common insect pests in soybean.

• Soybean Insect Pest Guide

Scouting Insects in Soybean

It is important to scout soybean for the presence of insect pests and to determine the relative number of insects present prior to making any management decisions or control recommendations.  Doing otherwise may unnecessarily increase production costs.  Soybean insects can be scouted using drop cloths and sweep nets depending upon the situation.  Each method has its limitations and benefits.  Thresholds  are typically based on the numbers of insects caught in drop cloth or sweep net sample, or symptoms of insect feeding such as defoliation.

• Soybean Scouting Form (F858)
• Virtual Scout School