Nevada ag officials outline 2025 Mormon cricket control plans, flag funding limits

Jeff Knight, Nevada’s state entomologist, told an Elko outreach meeting that the state will continue statewide surveys and prioritized treatments in 2025 while awaiting funding and federal paperwork.

"Right now we have about 240,000 acres proposed," Knight said, framing that number as subject to prioritization and funding. He said treatment blocks must meet a minimum threshold (two or more crickets per square yard) and be on rangeland, cropland or for public safety to qualify for program treatment.

Knight described the program’s operational limits: "We can only treat an area once" per season by air or ground, and treatments aim at a specific nymphal life stage for effectiveness. He explained the RATS (reduced agent and area treatment) aerial skip‑swath method used in Nevada — typically spray one swath, skip two, spray again — to extend coverage while reducing pesticide volume.

Federal partner USDA APHIS provides authority under the Plant Protection Act and participates in cost‑shares: for private range land the standard split discussed is roughly one‑third federal, one‑third state, one‑third private landowner; federal or tribal rangeland can be 100% government funded. Officials stressed that PPQ must have funds and that private landowners must contribute their share before treatment.

Officials said they aim to prioritize high‑risk blocks if funding is limited and to coordinate with counties where local baiting or treatments have already occurred. The presentation closed with reminders that proposed blocks may be reduced by buffers for roads, water, terrain and sensitive species habitat.