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Idaho Enterprise

Got Grasshoppers?

By Sawyer Fonnesbeck, University of Idaho Extension-Oneida County

Since beginning to work in Oneida county, I have heard stories about how much of a problem the grasshoppers were last year. This has not only been about agricultural land but about personal yards and gardens too. Grasshoppers have been a continual problem in Idaho and are not looking to go away. 

Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets are natural parts of the environment, yet these insects can cause severe damage when populations increase to abnormal levels. Infestations usually occur in hot and dry periods or growing seasons immediately after or during a drought. Damage can be done to all types of rangeland and crops such as alfalfa, cereals, corn, potatoes, and grasses. This damage can cause extensive crop and economic losses to landowners. 

Due to the threat that these grasshoppers and Mormon crickets can cause to agricultural land, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) created the “ISDA-Grasshopper & Mormon Cricket Control Program”, which provides resources to farmers and ranchers in the state of Idaho. In years past, this program has provided insecticide bait to eligible farmers and ranchers to help control the spread of these pests. Eligible individuals must have 5 or more acres of “agricultural use land” to apply. In 2020, Oneida county had 18 landowner requests for assistance. In 2021, that number increased to 58 applications for assistance, which was the highest number of applications from a single county in Idaho. What will 2022 bring? I’m not sure, but with the water situation looking more hard-pressed than we would like, we need to avoid any other problems/setbacks to ensure that there is a crop to harvest and pasture/rangeland for our cattle to graze. 

On March 25th at 6PM, the University of Idaho Extension office in Oneida county has invited the ISDA Grasshopper & Mormon Cricket control program coordinator, Kahla Montrose, to come provide information on what this program is and how to apply. This public meeting will be held at the Oneida County Events Center at the fairgrounds. EVERYONE in the community is invited to attend to learn about this program and the problems that grasshoppers can cause in our community. If you had a grasshopper problem last year, put this event on your calendar. See you then!