FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. (RFD NEWS) — Native rice stink bugs may be small, but they cost farmers millions of dollars each year in crop losses and control costs. Now, researchers say new findings could help address one of the industry’s growing concerns: insecticide resistance.
Allen Szalanski from the University of Arkansas joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to discuss the pest’s impact on agriculture and why it continues to be a costly challenge for rice producers.
Szalanski explained the background of the Rice Stink Bug and outlined how infestations can affect crop quality and farmers’ profitabilityto help insecticides remain effective for longer periods. He also shared details from a new study that identified clues that could help researchers better understand how the pest develops resistance to insecticides.
According to Szalanski, those findings could eventually support new management strategies designed to help insecticides remain effective for longer periods of time. He also discussed the next steps in the research process as scientists continue studying the pest and potential control options.
