Update from Platte County Weed and Pest:

 

PLATTE COUNTY WEED AND PEST

2010

GRASSHOPPER SPRAY PROGRAM

 

         Residents of Platte County are calling PCW&P with concerns that the grasshoppers are not going to be a problem this summer.  The weather conditions this spring have delayed the emergence of various grasshopper species by as much as 3 to 4 weeks.  We at PCW&P still believe there will be an out break of grasshoppers similar or worse than the summer of 2009.  We ask for people in the program particularly to have patience and take a wait and see philosophy.  WE WILL NOT SPRAY UNLESS WE FIND SUFFICIENT NUMBERS THAT WOULD WARRANT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM.  We will not spend the money unless absolutely necessary! 

     Reports from other counties around the state are similar to our field research that because of weather they are currently finding only ‘precursor’ species which hatch approximately 3 to 4 weeks ahead of the ‘infestation’ species.  Johnson County (Buffalo, Wyoming) is reporting some hatches already of ‘infestation’ species.  Experts from APHIS, USDA and the University of Wyoming entomologists predict they will begin the spray program in Johnson County in approximately 2 to 3 weeks.  This will assure coverage of other overlapping ‘infestant’ species which will emerge within the 30 day window that Dimilin 2L is effective; you do not want to spray too early as you will miss these later emergers.

     Weed & Pest would like to remind people that by spraying this year it should eliminate not only grasshoppers this summer but hoppers for next year.  JUST BE PATIENT – HANG IN THERE – WE DON’T WANT TO SPRAY UNLESS WE HAVE TO -  WE DON’T WANT TO MAKE THE MISTAKE OF STOPPING THE PROGRAM TOO EARLY – AND THEN – THEY SHOW UP!!!  We will be out and about counting these next few weeks and would appreciate any information or observations by landowners seeing grasshoppers to be called in to the Weed & Pest Office (322-3210) or directly to Larry Yost (331-0481).  We will attempt to notify landowners in the BLOCKS we are spraying through the Platte County Extension website, Platte County Resource District Newsletter and website as well as by telephone if possible. 

     THE COST TO LANDOWNERS WHO ARE IN THE PROGRAM HAS COME DOWN TO $1.25/ACRE FOR DEEDED.  STATE LAND WILL BE REIMBURSED FULLY AT THE $1.75/ACRE AND BLM WILL ALSO BE FULLY PAID.