Is there any way of knowing which parts of the country are hit hardest? The last time reports on bees came out (probably the mite plague) we had some very dry years. Blount County was and is in a "near drought" category.
Harking back to the Dust Bowl days, I remember cut worms and grasshoppers which were ready to eat what crops there were. I think High Country News has had articles on grasshopper infestations out West.