In the Midwestern United States, snap beans are grown primarily for processing with production areas in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. Wisconsin ranks first nationally with 35% of national production on over 80,000 acres valued at $36 million annually.

The most damaging insect pests are those that attack the pods and result in either damage or contamination of the processed product. The European corn borer (ECB) and to a lesser extent the corn earworm (CEW) are the major pod feeding pests with damage primarily from 2nd generation ECB and late flights of CEW in August/September. Damage from both species occurs from flowering to harvest, creating a treatment window of 30-7 days before harvest. Pods are protected during this window with a 2-4 spray program when crop maturity coincides with moth flights. A typical spray program in Wisconsin includes a pyrethroid (Capture, Warrior or Mustang) frequently used in rotation with an organophosphate (Orthene).