Grasshopper / Mormon Cricket Control for 2015

Grasshopper/Mormon Cricket Control

Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets continue to be on of the most serious pest problems in Idaho rangelands and adjacent croplands.

Idaho State Department of Agriculture Mormon Cricket and Grasshopper Control Program offers help to ranchers, farmers, and the general public in the suppression of economically damaging infestations on private or state owned lands. The program provides pest management information, insecticide bait and helps organize aerial cost share projects with private landowners to control damaging populations of these pests. Our program also strives to minimize negative environmental impacts from application of insecticides. Participants are required to abide by the EPA approved product labels and follow principles of sound pesticide stewardship.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an important partner in the overall program. APHIS conducts statewide surveys to determine the density and species composition of grasshopper populations on rangelands as well as suppression projects.

If you need help with grasshopper or Mormon cricket infestations go to our contact information and complaint form page.

2015 ISDA Program Policy

·         Field Operations will be a Bait Distribution Program only.

Farmers and ranchers with infestations will have the option of receiving Carbaryl bait.  The landowner will take full responsibility for labor costs, proper application, and storage of the bait.  In order for a landowner to receive bait, the land to be treated must be used for agricultural purposes (i.e. grazing, haying, or other types of crop production) and be 5 acres or more in size.  All private landowners receiving bait must submit a completed Form 1, Request for Evaluation.  Please email the attached fillable PDF form found with this letter to hoppers@agri.idaho.gov. 

Upon receipt of a Request for Evaluation form, ISDA will inspect the private landowner’s property for the extent of infestation.  ISDA field scouts will inspect the land in question to determine if bait is to be distributed to a particular landowner.  Upon receipt of any bait, the landowner will be required to sign an ISDA bait form, taking full responsibility for the use and storage of the bait they receive.

·         Landowners who receive bait will be required to comply with all label restrictions and requirements, as well as comply with the Idaho Pesticide and Chemigation Law, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide General Permit (PGP), and any other applicable state, federal, or local laws.  This responsibility also includes strictly following the insecticide label and proper calibration of application equipment, following all environmental precautions, and property storing and disposing of the empty bait bags.

·         ISDA has the responsibility and the authority to investigate any alleged pesticide misuse, particularly in regard to Carbaryl bait applications, and take enforcement action when appropriate.

·         Adequate oversight of the pest suppression program is an expectation.  Failure of participants and cooperators to submit the proper forms, such as Request for Evaluation or Bait Distribution Record, as required by ISDA, may result in loss of eligibility to participate in the program or to receive financial assistance.