Insect Pest Management in Organic Cotton

In recent years the demand for organic cotton in the United States has surged, necessitating significant imports to meet domestic needs. Addressing this demand domestically not only alleviates dependence n costly imports but also promotes the local agricultural economies. Yuma, Arizona could be a promising location for organic cotton production due to the amount of available organic acres, water, and favorable growing climate for the crop. Considering organic cotton is a potentially profitable summer crop alternative, stakeholders in Yuma express interest in its cultivation, recognizing the potential to stimulate  economic growth. With limited chemical tactics in the organic toolbox, managing insect pests poses a challenge in all organic production. This research will evaluate selected bioinsecticides' efficacy against whiteflies and lygus bugs, which are the two most economically concerning pests in cotton production. Objectives include assessing bioinsecticide effectiveness, identifying alternatives for insecticide rotation, and interpreting natural enemies of pests in organic cotton. Field experiments will be conducted at the Yuma Agricultural Center Mesa farm in the summer of 2024 to gather data crucial for advancing organic cotton production in Yuma. Some of the objectives for this project include: 1. Evaluate the efficacy of selected bioinsecticides against whiteflies in organic cotton. 2. Evaluate the efficacy of selected bioinsecticides against the lygus bug in organic cotton. 3. Determine bioinsecticides  that can serve as alternatives for insecticide rotation when controlling whiteflies and lygus bugs. 4. Identify whiteflies and lygus bug natural enemies in organic cotton in Yuma.