Drought and grasshoppers go hand in hand.

Some farmers are starting to worry about the pests, which thrive in dry, hot conditions.


Farmers say the insects aren't a problem when crops are healthy, but when there's little growth they eat what's left and leave nothing behind.

The Alberta Agriculture forecast says the potential risk of economically significant grasshopper populations this year has decreased throughout most of the province.  There are however, areas of southern and eastern Alberta as well as the Peace Region that have elevated risk.

A spokesman for Wildrose Agricultural Producers says reports are starting to come in about grasshoppers. He says insecticides help, but they are costly and hurt the environment, so crops that are already stunted may not be worth it.