Grasshopper Management

Organic producers are not expected to jeopardize their organic certification but are expected to be familiar with and implement any appropriate grasshopper management methods that are allowed under their organic certification.

Non-chemical, cultural management is one preventative approach to grasshopper control. Methods must be implemented well in advance of any grasshopper infestation to be effective. General recommendations for cultural prevention and management of grasshoppers in areas where problem populations are expected include:

• Avoid seeding very susceptible crops on stubble where a significant number of grasshopper eggs have been laid.
• Where the source of grasshoppers is predominantly outside the field, use a guard strip of a non-preferred crop or a tilled buffer strip around the perimeter of the field. (If the entire field is seeded to a non-preferred crop, a guard strip is not required. Permanent buffer strips of perennial forages are not effective as a grasshopper control.)
• Seed as early as possible in the spring or use fallseeded crops so the crop is more advanced when grasshoppers begin hatching and feeding.