Last year’s cool, wet weather was good for at least one thing: controlling grasshopper populations.
The 2011 forecast shows just a few hot spots, mainly in southwestern Saskatchewan, said provincial insect specialist Scott Hartley.
Areas showing the possibility of severe risk to cereals include the rural municipalities of Val Marie, Lone Tree, Pinto Creek, Auvergne, Arm River, Montrose and Perdue.
The forecast is based on adult grasshopper counts at 1,200 locations. A severe infestation is considered to be 12 to 24 grasshoppers per sq. metre.
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However, the survey showed that most of the province can expect zero to two grasshoppers per sq. metre.
Hartley said a spring similar to last year could push the numbers lower, but a warm, dry spring isn’t likely to result in a population explosion.
“We could see the start of a buildup,” he said, but it would take several years to reach the damaging populations experienced in 2003.
However, crops can be more susceptible in poor growing conditions such as many expect this year.
“You don’t need as many grasshoppers to cause more damage,” Hartley said.
Some crops are more affected than others no matter what the conditions.
For example, lentils are vulnerable to grasshopper damage as soon as they begin flowering and at only two insects per sq. metre.
Flax is vulnerable at the green boll stage.
“We are expecting a generally low risk across the province, but we could see economic (damage) numbers in vulnerable crops,” said Hartley.
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