BROOKINGS SD-One of the most common economic problems facing cattle producers from year to year is neither the livestock market nor the weather, but a pesky buzzing insect.

    While other flies cause losses the horn fly and stable fly pose the more serious problems for cattle producers.

    The horn fly, found on rangeland or pastures, and the stable fly, found in confinements and feed yards, are costing the industry nearly a billion dollars of production a year, according to John Wagner, extension nutrition specialist at S.D. State University.

    "A planned control program can improve overall performance and profitability in the cattle industry," he said.

    Wagner said that in South Dakota research has shown calves from protected herds can gain anywhere from one-quarter to a half pound more per day. Studies have also shown that a longer fly season may mean a bigger loss of production. In Georgia, which has a five month fly season, control resulted in 40 more pounds per weaned calf.

Murt McLeod, extension entomologist at SDSU, said that with South Dakota's cool, wet weather that we this spring, stable flies can be found in rangelands and pasture, areas usually reserved for the horn fly.

    "Stable flies like to lay their eggs where their larvae can develop, usually in the perimeter of wet areas, such as ponds, puddles and decaying organic mater. This year, with the prolonged wet condition s the larvae can remain living in these types of areas, " McLeod said.

    This may mean "double trouble" for rangeland and pasture Cattle, making a quality fly program all the more necessary.