08/02/05 Grasshopper invasion in two counties

The state of Idaho has provided nearly 35 thousand pounds of bait to landowners who are battling grasshoppers, thousands and thousands of them. State Department of Agriculture's Les Tschohl says the hoppers in parts of Lewis and Nez Perce counties are so thick you can't count them. TSCHOHL "Went to one field that was a hay field the entire field was solid green and two days later when we went in there the grasshoppers had eaten about a 50 foot swatch from the fence going east and just slicked it off. Unbelievable." The infestation starts north of Kooskia, south on both sides of the Clearwater River to east of Grangeville. There is one problem in battling the grasshoppers while still trying to control the spread of a noxious weed yellowstar thistle. TSCHOHL "If you go spray for grasshoppers there's a possibility that we could harm the biological control agents in the yellowstar thistle." Tschohl wants to hear from you if you're seeing large number of grasshoppers. The hotline is 685-6977. For Twin Falls and all counties east of that call 733-5119. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott