'It might be the story for a couple years': Grasshoppers devouring some southern Alberta farms
It's been a whirlwind season for farmers in southern Alberta who have had to deal with dry weather and extreme heat. Now, uninvited insects are adding more misery to their already-wounded crops.
The region's grasshopper population is booming and the pesky insects are ripping through farmers' crops, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
One of the biggest hurdles is that grasshopper infestations aren't an easy thing to control.
"Most insecticides are non-selective so, if you have to go in because you have a problem with something like grasshoppers in your crops, you're also going to hurt all the beneficial insects," said research coordinator for Farming Smarter Chris Gretzinger.
"It's a really delicate balancing act and it's a challenge because farmers don't want to spray."
The main reason grasshoppers are swarming some pockets of southern Alberta is because of the hot and dry weather.
Those conditions are also causing heat stress on crops and many farmers are having to pull the plug on well over half of their farm which means, spraying pesticides to reduce the grasshopper population doesn't make much financial sense.
"The challenge, especially for dryland farmers, is if you're not going to get a crop, should you spend the money trying to control grasshoppers?" said southern Alberta farmer John Kolk.
John Kolk, July 16, 2021
"There's just nothing to save there anymore and we never want to spray if we don’t have to because a lot of the prairie birds will pick up quite a few grasshoppers."
With many farmers choosing not to spend money to keep the grasshopper population at bay, it means this could be the start of a cyclical uptick that will be felt for the next few years.
"We're just probably at the tilt edge of starting the be overwhelmed in some of those hot spots and of course, they're going to be laying eggs," said Kolk.
"If those eggs get through the winter, this could build into something really ugly next year and over the next couple of weeks, we'll see what the weather does."
GRASSHOPPER SURGE
This isn't the first time grasshopper populations have surged on southern Alberta farms.
Grasshoppers, Lethbridge, July 16, 2021
In the early 1980's there was a massive boom in population and then again in the 1990's.
Kolk remembers those hordes of grasshoppers well.
"If you hit the brakes (back then), you were skidding on grasshopper carcasses," he said. "So, we're nowhere near that level in this area right now, but you know, they build in a cycle so we'll be keeping an eye on the situation."
The combination of scorching conditions decimating some farms and grasshoppers munching away on others has left many farmers staring down their worst yield in roughly 20 years.
Those supply issues are causing a massive uptick in prices which is being felt by farmers of all stripes.
"Anybody who needs feed or needs that crop right now is facing a really ugly challenge," said Kolk.
"Farming likes everything kind of smooth and steady," Kolk said. "That's what we'd like, we don't get it very often, but this is a challenge that's bigger than the crop farmers. It's the pasture guys, it's the feedlot operators, it's the hog operators. All of us are being impacted."
At this point, farmers in the area are just hoping mother nature can provide some kind of relief during the most challenging year in recent memory.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.