The first of two releases in a pilot program was mad in 1992 to test the feasibility of controlling the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens (F.), in a agricultural production environment by releasing sterile backcross (BC) insects over a wide area. Approximately 69,000 BC moths per day emerged from pupae placed in the field beginning 2 April until 1 May. The moths dispersed from 25 release point spaced about 3.2 km apart in a square area 16 km on side. Pheromone trap captures indicated that a 3.0:1.0 BC:wild ratio was achieved during the release period. The BC:wild ratio dropped to 1.3:1.0 during the June generation and 1.0:2.3 during the July generation. Released moths and their progeny captured in a control area 27 km away indicated that movement of these moths out of the release area was major factor in the progressive decline of the BC:wild ratio. There was no reduction in the July tobacco budworm population as a result of the spring BC release at the ratio achieved.