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News Specialist Sam Penrod reporting Utah's Department of Agriculture is blaming the predicted Mormon cricket problem on a mild winter, and it fears the insects will cost farmers millions of dollars.
Farmers and ranchers are already gearing up for what's become a yearly battle against the insects over the last six years. And already the crickets and grasshoppers are hatching, and in record numbers.
The scene of Mormon crickets crawling over the ground has become a common sight in several rural areas of Utah over the last six years. And agricultural officials are warning it will be even worse this year.
Larry Lewis, Utah Dept. Of Agriculture: "THE LATE WINTER THAW AND THE WARM TEMPERATURES WE'RE EXPERIENCING HAVE HATCHED THE CRICKETS AHEAD OF TIME, AS MUCH AS THREE WEEKS EARLY. WE'RE GETTING REPORTS OF MILLIONS OF THEM ALREADY."
The crickets are hatching on federal and state lands, primarily in Millard, Juab and Tooele counties.
Experts predict the insects will head for farmers' fields over the next couple of months, devouring any type of vegetation they can find.
Larry Lewis :"CONSIDERING THE DROUGHT, THERE WON'T BE A LOT OF NATURAL FEED FOR THEM IN THE FEDERAL LANDS AND WILDERNESS AREAS. SO THEY WILL BE MOVING TOWARDS IRRIGATED PASTURE LANDS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS"
The losses to crops could reach $25- million in the state this summer.
The infestation of crickets will also likely move through the towns of Eureka and Oak City again this year.
State and federal funding will provide $1-million to poison and bait the crickets and grasshoppers on public land.
The state will split the costs with farmers of treating their property and are encouraging farmers to work together.
Larry Lewis: "IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD FOR ONE LANDOWNER TO TREAT HIS PROPERTY IF HIS NEIGHBORS ARE NOT. THEY ALL NEED TO BAND TOGETHER."
State officials will begin efforts to poison the crickets next week in an attempt to slow them down before they reach farmers' fields or small towns in their path.
