Amid drought and heat, Sask. farmers now endure grasshopper scourge

Grasshoppers are once again threatening crops in Saskatchewan.

After a relatively quiet few years for the pests in the province, they're back this season and they've come in large numbers in some regions of the province.

It's worsening a season already affected by drought, strong winds and high temperatures.

Weekly crop reports from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agricultureindicate that grasshoppers have become a cause for concern to farmers in the province's northeast and northwest.

"We've had a couple of quiet years in Saskatchewan. This year is arguably more characteristic and certainly on the increase," saidJames Tansey,an entomologist with the ministry.

"The warm, dry conditions have contributed greatly to the outbreak [in some regions]," hetold Radio-Canada in an interview last week.

Grasshoppers are actuallyextremely beneficial to the province's ecosystem,cycling nutrients and serving as a food for a number of other animals, said Tansey.

But that doesn't mean the insects are beneficial to those making a living in agriculture.

"When you run into animals that you're in competition with, such as grasshoppers, that's where problems can arise," Tansey said. "Grasshoppers are certainly in competition forour crops."

WATCH|Grasshoppers swarmin a piece of farm equipment near Hazenmore, Sask. This video may disturb some viewers

Sask. farmer captures swarm of grasshoppers on video

3 years ago

Duration 0:15

Matthew Mackenzie submitted this footage of grasshoppers swarming in a piece of farm equipment near Hazenmore, Sask.

The province's latest crop report, issued on Monday, says the majority of crop damage lately has come from heat and drought, but it notesgrasshoppers are continuing to be an issue for farmers in some areas.

Many producers are unable to deal with the pests as they begin to harvest, thereport says.

With crops already threatened by thissummer's drought, some farmers are reluctant to invest in products that would be necessary to control grasshoppers, Tansey says.

"It's not economically feasible for a grower to spend the money on fuel and for a control product if there isn't an economic return on that."

Now, all that is left to be done is harvest as much as possible before the pests do more damage, the province's crop report says.