02/04/05 State, feds prepare for cricket invasion

The Idaho Senate Ag Affairs Committee got the news about Mormon crickets and grasshoppers. There were more of them last year than in 2002 and 2003 combined. Ben Simko of the Idaho Department of Agriculture says nearly 2.8 million acres in southern Idaho had crickets last year. SIMKO "In 2005 we anticipate an equally daunting year as far as the challenges, the level of infestation. A lot of environmental factors can impact the population dynamics of these pests, weather, rain, temperature, frost patterns." USDA's Dave McNeal told lawmakers he is preparing the federal response program in Idaho. MCNEAL "First of March we'll put our environmental assessment for Mormon crickets out for public comment. The assessment evaluates the potential environmental impacts of carbaryl bait and Dimilin insect growth regulator spray." It will be April first before any federal treatment program could begin. McNeal says its probable that Mormon crickets will hatch next month, maybe even later this month if it remains warm. Owyhee, Elmore, Oneida, Power and Ada counties got the most bait last year and can expect to see the ravenous insects again this year. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott