Gary Adams, State Plant Health Director for APHIS in Montana, and Bruce Shambaugh with Wyoming APHIS (Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service) identify grasshopper species at the Stacey Hall last week. Adams and Shambaugh met with landowners at five different sites in Southeastern Montana to explain grasshopper biology, control options and predictions for grasshopper populations next summer. "We are in the red zone (15 or more grasshoppers per square yard)," reported Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph, "which isn't surprising, but not a good place to be!" Landowners are encouraged to contact Powder River Extension for more information regarding a possible county-wide grasshopper control program for the summer of 2021. (Photo courtesy PR Extension Office)
Courtesy PR Extension Office
After dealing with drought and a severe grasshopper infestation throughout much of Powder River County this summer, landowners have expressed interest in controlling grasshoppers earlier in the summer next year, according to Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph.
"At landowner request, I scheduled grasshopper control programs in Broadus and Stacey last week," said Rumph. Representatives from Montana and Wyoming APHIS shared the nuts and bolts of the grasshopper control programs they have provided and will continue to, if requested to help and if grasshopper infestations warrant treatment. Services APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Services) can provide includes surveys, technical assistance and broad scale aerial insecticide application.
Surveys have been conducted in Powder River County in late July and August to count the number of adult grasshoppers.
"The entire county is in the red zone," commented Rumph, "which means there are fifteen or more grasshoppers per square yard." This information is relevant for predicting the population for next summer, because the adults are laying eggs that will hatch in the spring, explained Gary Adams, State Plant Health Director, Montana for APHIS. Last year, only a small area in the southwestern part of the county was in the red zone and yet, the severe infestation was widespread, to the disappointment of many, said Rumph.
Key points for planning a grasshopper control program for 2021 include:
• Treatment areas with a minimum of 10,000 acres of rangeland are necessary;
• Dimilin is the product used at 1 oz./Acre. It is a growth regulator that is effective on insects with an exo-skeleton; it is not harmful to bees or birds;
• RAATs (Reduced Agent Area Treatment) is utilized, an aerial swath treatment;
• Treatment with Dimilin must be done at the third instar (which normally occurs in mid to late June);
• Estimated cost to landowners is $3.00 per acre and dependent on the size of the treatment area (bigger is less expensive);
• Treatment needs to be requested prior to January 1st, so landowners need to start organizing with neighbors and maps now and complete contracts;
• No treatment will occur if the population doesn't exceed the threshold for control based on early June surveys.
"My goal in sharing this information is to be prepared to treat grasshoppers at the right time next year, if needed," said Rumph. "Our ranch benefited from participating in a program based in Campbell County, Wyoming this summer. Both my husband Owen and I were skeptical until we saw the difference between our Montana rangeland and our pastures in Wyoming."
Owen described the difference as "profound; grass for our cattle to eat versus dirt."
For additional information on organizing a program in your area, please contact the Powder River Extension at 436-2424.
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