Aid sought after insect invasions

Monday, Sept. 15, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Nevada received $240,000 last spring from the U.S. Agriculture Department to use to spray pesticide on the swarms of crickets that infested millions of acres in Northern Nevada.

Gov. Kenny Guinn is now asking Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to declare all 17 Nevada counties a disaster area because of the fourth straight year of drought and the damage done by the crickets.

If she approves the request, that would make farmers and ranchers eligible for federal grants and low cost loans to repair the damage.

Ed Foster of the state Agriculture Department said Friday that a few ranchers in Clark County may qualify for the aid. He said the major loss statewide was in the hay crop.

State Entomologist Jeff Knight said this year's Mormon crickets covered 5 million to 6 million acres, and there were also several outbreaks of clear-winged grasshoppers in the meadows across Northern Nevada.

"Both of these infestations were most likely due to several mild winters and continued drought," Knight said. "If the current winter weather trends continue, it will add to our cricket and other drought-related pest problems."