INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION TO ADDRESS 2008/2009 GRASSHOPPER INFESTATION IN NE OREGON
Agronomy & Pest Management
Cory Parsons
Livestock/Natural Resources Agent
Oregon State University
BAKER CITY
Abstract
During the summers of 2008 and 2009 NE Oregon was stricken by an infestation of grasshoppers. Specifically Camnula pellucida, or clear winged grasshoppers, which are a native species usually found at minimal populations in rangeland areas. Research by the Government of British Columbia Pest Management Ministry has reported that 12 to 24 grasshoppers per square yard in pasture eat as much forage as one cow per acre. Furthermore Oregon Department of Ag and USDA APHIS have set a minimal threshold of 8 grasshoppers per square yard as being of economic impact. The amount of damage or crop loss is directly related to the number of grasshoppers present. On September 8, 2008 ODA Entomologist reported that in Baker County “the grasshopper infestation covered upwards of 733,000 acres with an average concentration of adult grasshoppers of 31 per square yard”. Baker County had exceeded the 8 per square yard threshold by nearly 4 times. Extrapolating the Baker County grasshopper counts into pounds of forage damage would equate to 21,041 tons of forage loss due to grasshopper damage. Due to educational efforts by OSU Extension, ODA, and USDA APHIS, as well as chemical control cost share, the fall 2009 infested acres report was listed at less than 30,000 acres in Baker County. The reduction in grasshopper populations in NE Oregon would not have been possible without the collaborative educational and cost share programs provided by the State and Federal partners.
Authors: Parsons, C. , Walenta, D.
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Parsons, C. Baker Count Ag Agent, Oregon State University Extension, Oregon, 97814
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Walenta, D. Agriculture Extension Agent, Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Service, Union County, Oregon, 97850