The Alabama Cotton Pest Management Program (ACPMP) has been ongoing for 33 consecutive years and encompasses the entire state acreage of 560,000 acres grown in 57 of the state’s 67 counties. During the past 33 years, there have been significant changes in Alabama cotton pest guild, survey techniques and thresholds, and available pest control options. The ACPMP is constantly evolving as the pest, crop and IPM tools and technology change. Insecticides were once a major component of the ACPMP out of necessity with up to 6-12 foliar applications per year (depending upon location). At present, foliar sprays average 0.9-4 per year and constitute a minor part of the program due to pest eradication and implementation of IPM tactics such as tillage practices, introduction of transgenic cotton, seed treatments at planting, and applications of reduced risk pesticides. At present, all cotton growers in Alabama use a high percentage of all available IPM practices and technology. The Alabama Cotton Pest Management Program is coordinated by Drs. Ron Smith and Barry Freeman, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
