Hopper outbreak looking severe
CHEYENNE -- County pest control districts throughout Wyoming are preparing for a grasshopper outbreak this summer.
Laramie County Weed and Pest is hosting a meeting Tuesday to see if there is enough interest to start a grasshopper control program here. The state is investing more than $2 million toward combating the insects.
"We're predicting a severe problem this year," said Dick Sackett, supervisor for Weed and Pest.
Last year he heard from landowners who put cattle out to pasture for only two months instead of four because grasshoppers had gnawed their way through grazing land.
"The grasshoppers ate it all," he said. "There wasn't anything left."
But only four or five landowners asked for aid to fight the problem last year. Now the organization hopes to attract as many large landowners as possible to reduce the costs of spray treatments and provide better control for the grasshoppers.
A chemical growth regulator would lead to incomplete or fatal molting for young grasshoppers. The treatment also would be mixed with canola oil to attract the insects.
Damp, cool spring weather could impact a summertime outbreak, but March snowstorms were too early to help. It will take about another month before grasshopper eggs begin to hatch, he said.
Between 2002 and 2008 Wyoming landowners saw fewer than eight hoppers per square yard. But last year the population ranged from eight to 55 per square yard, said Slade Franklin of the state Department of Agriculture.
He added that about 15 grasshoppers per square yard are enough to devour 30 percent of an area's crop or rangelands.
Last year a grasshopper meeting for landowners in Lusk attracted 10 people. On Wednesday more than 100 joined in there, Franklin said.
He added that hay production in 2009 dropped by as much as 50 percent, and cattle herds were cut because there wasn't enough grass to feed the animals.
Franklin said $700,000 will ensure that state lands are treated; another chunk of money will supplement the cash supply for county weed and pest groups.
He added that landowners should contact local districts to find out what help is available to combat grasshoppers this year.
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/03/29/news/01top_03-29-10.txt
Laramie County Weed and Pest is hosting a meeting Tuesday to see if there is enough interest to start a grasshopper control program here. The state is investing more than $2 million toward combating the insects.
"We're predicting a severe problem this year," said Dick Sackett, supervisor for Weed and Pest.
Last year he heard from landowners who put cattle out to pasture for only two months instead of four because grasshoppers had gnawed their way through grazing land.
"The grasshoppers ate it all," he said. "There wasn't anything left."
But only four or five landowners asked for aid to fight the problem last year. Now the organization hopes to attract as many large landowners as possible to reduce the costs of spray treatments and provide better control for the grasshoppers.
A chemical growth regulator would lead to incomplete or fatal molting for young grasshoppers. The treatment also would be mixed with canola oil to attract the insects.
Damp, cool spring weather could impact a summertime outbreak, but March snowstorms were too early to help. It will take about another month before grasshopper eggs begin to hatch, he said.
Between 2002 and 2008 Wyoming landowners saw fewer than eight hoppers per square yard. But last year the population ranged from eight to 55 per square yard, said Slade Franklin of the state Department of Agriculture.
He added that about 15 grasshoppers per square yard are enough to devour 30 percent of an area's crop or rangelands.
Last year a grasshopper meeting for landowners in Lusk attracted 10 people. On Wednesday more than 100 joined in there, Franklin said.
He added that hay production in 2009 dropped by as much as 50 percent, and cattle herds were cut because there wasn't enough grass to feed the animals.
Franklin said $700,000 will ensure that state lands are treated; another chunk of money will supplement the cash supply for county weed and pest groups.
He added that landowners should contact local districts to find out what help is available to combat grasshoppers this year.
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/03/29/news/01top_03-29-10.txt
Posted by Colvin & Co. at 3/30/2010 6:00 AM 
Categories: Farmland
Tags: Livestock Weather agriculture farmland
Categories: Farmland
Tags: Livestock Weather agriculture farmland
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