Contact: Edith Chenault, (979) 845-2886,e-chenault@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION — Producers in some parts of Texas are hopping mad about the high numbers of grasshoppers in their fields and crops, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reports.
Dr. Cliff Hoelscher, Extension entomologist in College Station, said the grasshopper problem started in early spring and will continue through the summer.
“We have about 63 counties that have very abundant grasshopper populations,” Hoelscher said.
He said forage loss in pastures has not been severe because of the good rainfall the Southeast Texas area has had lately.
“Last year was dry and the grasshoppers ate all the forage,” Hoelscher said. “This year the grass is growing quickly and is replacing itself.”
He said the real problem is the migration of adult grasshoppers into crops such as corn, sorghum and cotton and into home gardens.
“Homeowners and home gardeners in rural areas have experience difficulty in achieving control because of migration of the adult grasshoppers,” Hoelscher said.
He added that it is fairly easy to kill grasshoppers that are in one area, but the reinfestation of grasshoppers into previously treated areas is a serious problem. Insecticide treatment with Sevin has proven effective, he said.
“To treat the area with Sevin costs about 8 to 9 dollars per acre,” Hoelscher said.
He added that with the present low commodity prices, many producers are choosing not to treat.
He said the method of treatment will depend on the size of the area being treated.
“People trying to protect areas that are smaller than 30 or 40 acres will continue to experience problems because of adult migration,” Hoelscher said. “You can kill the grasshoppers in an area today, but within three to five days the adults from untreated areas will move into the previously treated areas.”
He said there are 147 species of different grasshoppers that infest Texas, so when environmental conditions are favorable, grasshopper outbreaks can and do occur.
“We normally get some natural control from a fungus disease that attacks the newly-hatched grasshoppers, but the fungus has not been active during the past two years,” Hoelscher said.
He said insects occur in cycles and this naturally occurring fungus just has not built up. He added that there is no way to produce it in the laboratory and release it in the field.
Hoelscher said the way the insecticide is applied can determine how effective the treatment is.
“We have found some distinct advantages in treating fence-row areas where grasshoppers congregate,” he said. “What we have been doing is treating these areas and strip-treating the adjoining pasture area.”
Hoelscher said grasshoppers are not evenly distributed, so if heavily-infested areas are treated, there will be a reduction in numbers.
“You will not get total control of the grasshoppers, but you will reduce them by 75 percent to 80 percent,” he said.
Hoelscher added that producers wanting to treat large areas can use a different method of application.
“We’ve been successful in treating large ranches by air,” he said. “This is the cheapest and most cost-effective treatment for grasshoppers.”
Emery Boring, Extension entomologist in Vernon, said his area is beginning to dry up.
“When that happens, the grasshoppers are moving into the fields are around them that are green,” Boring said. “And right now they are moving out of pastures and onto trees, shrubs and gardens.”
He said producers are in better shape this year because there is more moisture and there are a lot more green areas, so the damage is not as severe as during a time of drought.
“However, in spots where they don’t have much moisture, it is just as bad as it was last year,” Boring said.
He said the treatment can be expensive.
“They move out of pastures into garden areas and you have to spray and spray again,” he said. “The cost eventually builds up.”
Boring said it is better for homeowners to spray a bigger area.
“A lot of the times that is ineffective because the homeowner does not control the area that the grasshoppers are moving in from,” he said.
“If you own the pasture next to your garden, you can make two effective applications,” Boring said. “But if you don’t own the pasture next to your garden you can do little to prevent infestation.”
In West Central Texas, District Extension Director Scott Durham in San Angelo said rains have been scattered over the area.
“Cotton is continuing to make good growth,” he said.
Sorghum fields are being cut and baled for hay and forage is maturing.
“The wheat harvest is complete,” Durham said, “and the production was poor to fair.”
Livestock is in fair to good condition, but insect problems are increasing, he said.
“Pastures and range conditions are slightly above average due to the summer rains,” Durham added.
The peach crop is light this year and later varieties are maturing, he said.
“The pecan crop load is heavy,” Durham said.
In North Texas, District Extension Director Randy Upshaw in Dallas, said all crops could use some rain.
“Cotton is squaring and beginning to flower,” he said.
Sorghum appears to be good, Upshaw said, but closer inspection reveals that quality and yields are lower than anticipated.
“Pastures are in good shape and ranchers are busy harvesting hay as quickly as possible,” Upshaw said.
He added that grasshoppers continue to cause problems in crops and pastures.
The following specific livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by district Extension directors:
PANHANDLE: soil moisture is very short to adequate. Corn in silk and tassel stage; spider mites beginning to develop. Cotton squaring; fleahoppers and lygus bugs a problem. Peanuts pegging. Sorghum doing well. Cattle in good to excellent condition.
SOUTH PLAINS: soil moisture is adequate. Wheat harvest near completion. Cotton in fair to good condition. Aphid outbreaks on the increase. Boll weevil pressures heavy. Corn in good to excellent condition; irrigation continues. Sorghum doing well.
ROLLING PLAINS: soil moisture is short to adequate. Wheat harvest complete. Cotton irrigation in full swing. Grasshoppers causing problems in all crops. Peanut crop looks good. Pecan trees setting a good crop. Cattle doing well. Peach prices and quality very good.
NORTH TEXAS: soil moisture is short to adequate. Cotton squaring; beginning to flower. Sorghum yields and quality not as high as expected. Wheat harvest complete. Pastures doing well. Hay being harvested. Sweet potatoes look good. Grasshoppers, disease a problem.
EAST TEXAS: soil moisture is adequate. Hay yields good. Cattle condition good; markets stable. Cotton squaring. Sorghum headed. Vegetable gardens flourishing. Farmer’s markets excellent. Pecan outlook good. Peanuts pegged. Pastures doing well.
FAR WEST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short to adequate. Cotton squaring. Wheat harvest complete. Cantaloupe harvest ending. Pastures doing well. Cattle look good; markets strong. Livestock in good condition. Pecan crop progressing normally. Insect damage light.
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is short to adequate. Sorghum fields being cut and baled for hay. Wheat harvest complete. Corn maturing nicely. Livestock in fair to good condition. Insect problems increasing. Pastures doing well due to rains.
CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is short. Grasshopper populations high. Hay harvest good in terms of quality and quantity. Crop conditions are generally good, but rainfall is needed on pastures and grain sorghum.
SOUTHEAST TEXAS: soil moisture is short to adequate. Corn maturing; harvest will begin soon. Peanut planting complete. Sorghum harvest under way. Cotton blooming. Harvesting watermelons. Pastures look good. Grasshoppers, insects still a major problem.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS: soil moisture is adequate. Pastures, ranges are green. Livestock in good condition. Harvesting of sorghum, corn continues. Cotton, peanuts taking full advantage of the rainfall and making excellent progress.
COASTAL BEND: soil moisture is adequate. Cotton making excellent progress. Some corn being harvested. Sorghum harvest continues; good yields; some midge damage reported. Early rice fields yielding well. Soybean harvest has begun. Pastures doing well.
SOUTH TEXAS: soil moisture is short to adequate. Most crops are maturing. Rainfall causing some damage to corn. Some harvesting of corn has begun. Cotton harvest under way. Sugarcane doing well due to increased soil moisture. Pastures very healthy.
-30-