2023 Saskatchewan Grasshopper Forecast
Grasshopper numbers increased again from 2022 and many incidents of spraying were reported throughout the province and in many crops. Significant populations were reported in South Central, Southwestern, and Southeastern regions in several crops. Two-striped grasshoppers were widespread with some localized reports of large lesser migratory grasshopper, primarily in far-southern RMs. Heavy populations (30 m-2) were detected in the Southwest and West Central (RMs, 255, 256, 257, and 286). Potentially economically damaging populations (10 – 29.9 m-2) were detected at an additional 31 sites in Southwest, Southeast, South Central, East Central and West Central RMs. Moderate counts (5 – 9.9 m-2) were found at 181 sites throughout the province. No grasshoppers were reported from only 10 of 1134 sites. The long, dry, warm late summer and fall in many parts of the province meant good conditions for grasshopper egg laying. This means that we anticipate continued pressure from grasshoppers in many regions in 2023.