Grasshopper infestation threatens Northern California crops, experts urge early action

Grasshoppers are wreaking havoc on crops across Northern California, marking the fifth consecutive year of severe infestations. Modoc County, located in the state’s northeastern corner, has been particularly hard-hit, with farmers reporting extensive damage to hay, onions, garlic and even pollinator plants.

“This is probably the worst I’ve seen yet,” said Laura Snell, a livestock and natural resource advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Modoc County. In previous years, some farmers lost up to 70% of their hay crops, but the devastation has spread to a broader range of crops this year, impacting local markets and honey production.

Grasshopper infestations have also been reported in Lassen, Sierra, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Placer, and Nevada counties. The persistent outbreaks have puzzled scientists. “For whatever reason, the population cycle does not appear to have been broken,” said Tom Getts, UCCE weed ecology and cropping systems advisor.

Grasshoppers can consume up to 250% of their body weight daily, making them a significant threat to agriculture. UCCE advisors have been offering control strategies, emphasizing early monitoring and coordinated efforts among farmers. Rob Wilson, an agronomy and pest management advisor, noted that in some fields, grasshopper nymphs have reached 20 to 30 per square yard, well above the threshold for economic damage.

In addition to grasshoppers, farmers are dealing with secondary pests like blister beetles, which thrive in the presence of grasshopper populations. Getts urged growers to collaborate on control measures to prevent the problem from escalating further.