Spraying planned for midge outbreak

CHS Kalispell is working with Flathead Valley farmers to spray wheat fields in an ongoing effort to control the orange wheat blossom midge.

“Because of the wet spring we’ve had, it’s lining up be a major threat this year,” said Mark Lalum, general manager of CHS Kalispell.

Local wheat farmers have hired crop-dusting expert Mike Campbell of Dutton to handle the spraying.

“The orange wheat blossom midge lays its eggs in the head of the grain, next to the grain kernel, and then hatches into small orange larvae that feed off the kernel,” Lalum said. “The kernel is damaged by the feeding, causing quality and yield reduction. We have seen as many as 20 or 30 larvae on a head.”

The goal is to get the midge before it lays eggs, he added.

As soon as the CHS agronomy team discovers the midge in its larval stage, it will order spraying to begin.

“It will be intense,” Lalum cautioned. Spraying will start at 4 a.m. and could continue until 10 a.m. each day.

“The temperature of the day will dictate the length of spraying as the plane loses its lift the warmer it gets,” he said. “It is a good practice to stay out of the treated area for 24 hours.”

Depending on the severity, spraying could last two or three weeks. Area residents can expect to see and hear airplanes and helicopters in the coming weeks throughout the Flathead Valley.