As we head into the 2026 growing season, pulse crop producers in Montana face a familiar foe: grasshoppers. These pests can wreak havoc on your lentils, chickpeas, and dry peas, potentially eating their body weight in vegetation daily—think 30 pounds of grasshoppers munching as much as a 600-pound cow! With weather conditions in 2024 and early 2025 setting the stage for a potential grasshopper surge, it’s time to stay vigilant. Here’s what you need to know and how to protect your fields.
Weather Conditions Fueling Grasshopper Risks
Last year, 2024, was a dry one for parts of Montana, with precipitation levels at just 75–85% of normal for the water year (October 2023–September 2024). These warm, dry conditions are a grasshopper’s dream, ensuring their eggs survive in the soil and hatch successfully come spring. While March 2025 brought above-average precipitation (110–140% of normal), the earlier dryness likely set the stage for strong grasshopper populations. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) forecasted high grasshopper densities in central Montana for 2024, a trend that could carry into 2025 unless we act early.
Winter forecasts, influenced by a La Niña pattern, suggest cooler temperatures and more precipitation through early spring. However, USDA experts note that typical cold spells won’t significantly dent grasshopper numbers. Pulse crops like lentils and chickpeas are particularly vulnerable, as grasshoppers can strip young plants or damage pods, reducing yields and quality.
What to Look For: Signs of Grasshopper Hatchings
Grasshopper eggs typically hatch in late spring to early summer, often from May to June in Montana, depending on soil temperatures. Early detection is key to managing infestations before they devastate your pulse crops. Here’s what to scout for:
- Egg Beds: Look for bare, undisturbed soil patches, especially in sunny, south-facing areas or along field edges. Grasshopper eggs are laid in clusters (pods) just below the soil surface, often in dry, loose soil. You might notice small, cylindrical egg pods if you dig gently (about 1–2 inches deep).
- Nymphs (Young Grasshoppers): Newly hatched grasshoppers, or nymphs, are tiny (about 1/4 inch), wingless, and resemble miniature adults. They’re often found in clusters near egg beds, moving in a “hopping” pattern. Check pulse crop fields, especially in areas with sparse vegetation or near rangelands.
- Feeding Damage: Early signs include irregular holes or chewed edges on young pulse crop leaves. Grasshoppers prefer tender new growth, so inspect seedlings and young plants closely. Damage may start near field margins and spread inward.
- Movement: Nymphs are less mobile than adults, so you’ll likely see them in concentrated areas. As they grow, they’ll disperse, making early detection critical.
Scout your fields weekly, especially as temperatures warm in May and June. Walk a “W” pattern through your pulse crops, checking at least 10 spots per field, and pay attention to adjacent rangelands or grassy areas where grasshoppers often originate.
USDA’s Take and Management Options
The USDA warns that grasshoppers remain a significant threat to Montana agriculture in 2025, with central and eastern regions at particular risk. Of the nearly 400 grasshopper species in the West, only about 12 are pests, but those few can devastate crops like lentils and chickpeas. The USDA’s Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney, Montana, emphasizes integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, such as:
- Monitoring: Regular scouting to catch infestations early.
- Cultural Practices: Tilling egg-laying sites in the fall can disrupt egg pods, though this must be balanced with soil conservation practices.
- Chemical Controls: Reduced Area and Agent Treatments (RAATs) can target grasshoppers efficiently, but funding for pesticide programs is limited, as noted by the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
For detailed resources, check out www.aphis.usda.gov or www.ars.usda.gov for grasshopper identification guides and management tips tailored to Montana.
Act Now: Contact Your Local Extension Agent
If you spot egg beds, nymphs, or early feeding damage, don’t wait—contact your local Montana State University Extension agent immediately. They can help confirm grasshopper activity, assess population levels, and recommend control measures suited to your pulse crops. Early intervention is critical, as young grasshoppers are easier to manage before they mature and spread. Your extension agent can also connect you with USDA programs or local resources to support pest management efforts.
Find your local extension office at www.montana.edu/extension or call the Montana Pulse Crop Committee for guidance. By staying proactive, we can protect our pulse crops and keep central Montana’s fields thriving in 2025.
Let’s work together to keep the grasshoppers away!
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