Grasshopper forecast, a slight improvement

Grasshopper outlook 2022

Unfortunately for most of Montana, the grasshopper outlook is only slightly better than 2021.

The Rangeland Grasshopper outlook is developed through surveys of adult grasshoppers in the fall of 2021. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts the survey and compiles the outlook map. In the state of Montana, 45.8 million acres are forecasted to experience 8-15 grasshoppers per square yard (orange) and 8.6 million acres are projected to have more than 15 grasshoppers per square yard (red) with 15 grasshoppers per square yard being the economic threshold.

In looking at the map, Phillips County looks like it is 50/50 for the orange and red, respectively. There are two things to remember regarding grasshoppers; they can move and if we continue to stay dry, the grasshoppers will have a larger impact even at the 8-15 grasshoppers per square yard.

"It just seems that our agricultural industry can't get a break, said Marko Manoukian, said Marko Manoukian, MSU Extension Agent. "Whether it is drought or grasshoppers, it all has an impact."

Specifically, for grasshoppers, APHIS usually provides cost share funds to assist producers with hopper control. However, in 2022, the agency does not have any funding for control. Producers should remain vigilant for newly seeded stands and rangelands. Control options for producers include cyfluthrin, pyrethroid, and dimilin. While the first two chemistries control a broad range of insects including grasshoppers, dimilin is a growth regulator and is specific to grasshoppers. Dimilin also has the longest residual control. For more information on control, call the Extension Office at 654-2543.