Montana Ag Network: Grasshopper outbreak plagues farmers and ranchers Montana Ag Network: Grasshopper outbreak plagues farmers and ranchers By: Russell Nemetz and last updated 2021-07-28 19:42:58-04 BILLINGS â If this yearâs drought wasnât already enough for farmers and ranchers to deal with, many across the West are also facing the second-largest grasshopper outbreak in 35 years - and the hoppers are decimating crops along with pasture and range. One of the areas hit hard this year is Phillips County where MSU extension agent Marko Manoukian says that, unfortunately, last yearâs warning signs have come true. âWe had some enormous populations that were hatching in in June of 2020,â said Manoukian. âFrom that those levels were 50 to 80 grasshoppers per square yard. The USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) number for injury to range resources is 15 per square yard. So, we overshot that completely. Based on that, there was some control efforts that were done, but they were pretty much rudimentary. APHIS built a 2021 projection map and to their credit, it is come true. We have hoppers that have invaded every part of our landscape, whether you're in town or out of town in mass formation.â