In carrying out its responsibilities, the Department will continue to: Conduct and support cooperative research to find new, effective biological, cultural, and integrated pest control materials and methods; Seek effective, specific, nonpersistent pesticides and methods of application that provide maximal benefits and are least hazardous to man and his environment; Cooperate with other public and private organizations and industry in the development and evaluation of pest control materials and methods, assessment of benefits and potential hazards in control operations, monitoring for pesticide residues, and dissemination of pesticide safety information. All users of pesticides are strongly urged to heed label directions and exercise constant care in pesticide application, storage, and disposal for the protection of people, animals, and our total environment. The Department commends this policy to all who are concerned with pest control. With this issuance, Secretary's Memorandum No. 1666, dated October 29, 1969, is hereby superseded. CONTENTS Page Biological control of cotton insects... Chemical defoliation and desiccation as an aid to cotton Production mechanization in cotton insect control. Precautions in using insecticides and miticides.. Registrations of insecticides and miticides... Restrictions on use of insecticides on cotton. Application of insecticides and miticides.......... Resistance to insecticides and miticides... Effect of environmental factors on insecticidal control. Insecticides and miticides recommended for the control Common and chemical names of insecticides used for cotton Insecticides and miticides showing promise in field tests.. Insecticides and miticides showing promise in cage or laboratory Cotton insects and spider mites and their control Table showing recommended dosages for the principal insecticides used for control of cotton insects.. Table showing species of mites and miticides recommended for Insects in or anong cottonseed in storage. Sone major cotton pests occurring in other countries and Hawaii that might be introduced into the continental United States..... Mention of a proprietary product or firm does not The * 29th ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT ON COTTON INSECT RESEARCHI AND CONTROL "Las Vegas, Nevada, January 5-7, 1976 INTRODUCTION This report of the 29th Annual Conference of State and Federal workers is concerned with cotton insect research and control. Research and extension entomologists and associate technical workers from 14 cotton-growing States, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Cotton Council of America, and Cotton Incorporated met to review the research and experiences of the previous year and to formulate guiding statements for control recommendations in 1976. The chief purpose of the Conference is to enable the exchange of information that may be useful in planning further research, survey, and extension work, and to make the results of research available to others. The report presents information of value (1) to industry in planning production programs, (2) to State and Federal research workers in planning research programs, (3) to extension entomologists in bringing to the attention of growers and other interested groups the control recommendations for their States, (4) to teachers of entomology in the various colleges and universities, and (5) to consulting entomologists. It is also widely used in foreign countries in connection with the development of cotton insect control programs. The Conference Report is available to anyone interested in cotton production. Copies may be obtained from the Staff Specialist for Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, Beltsville, d. 20705. It may be duplicated in whole or in part, but it should not be used for advertising purposes. No less than a complete section relating to one material or insect together with any supplemental statements should be copied. Agreement on overall recommendations may be expected; however, complete standardization throughout the Cotton Belt is not possible. Details of recommendations will vary with the region or locality. Cotton growers in the respective States should follow the recommendations contained in the State Guides for Controlling Cotton Insects and the advice of qualified entomologists, who are familiar with their local problems. Determining the species and abundance of various insects and the specific injuries inflicted upon the cotton plant is important in insect control. Knowledge of the life history and habits of the insects, the growth and fruiting characteristics of cotton plants, and the environmental relationships that exist between the plants and insects yields additional information basic to an evaluation of the economic insect situation involved. Each control measure used should be a part of an integrated control program, utilizing to the fullest extent wherever possible cultural, physical, mechanical, biological, legal, and natural controls. llowever, when the level of infestation of an insect or group of insects approaches the economic threshold, chemical control measures should be applied to prevent damage to the cotton crop. Insecticides, dosages, formulations, and timing schedules should be selected to solve existing problems without creating new ones. Research results on cotton insect control obtained by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State Experiment Stations are extended to the cotton industry by the Cooperative Extension Service in each State. It is the responsibility of each individual farm operator to make decisions concerning the control of cotton insects. lle may do this himself or he may delegate the job to someone else. (See Determining the Need for Insecticide and Miticide Applications, p. 22). In making recommendations for the use of insecticides, entomologists should recognize their responsibility with regard to hazards to the public. (See Precautions in Using Insecticides and liticides, p. 9). The insecticide industry has a great responsibility to the cotton grower in making available adequate supplies of recommended materials that are properly formulated. Sales programas should be based on State or area recommendations. Various "remedies" and devices, such as concoctions of unknown makeup, bugcatching machines, light traps, and other mechanical or electrical contrivances for controlling insects, have been put on the market through the years. Although some had slight value, most were less effective and more expensive than widely tested standard methods. Cotton growers are urged to follow approved recommendations known to be of sound value. |