June 1997 Department of Entomology Cultivation of the soil is one of the most effective cultural practices available to farmers for the reduction of grasshopper populations.
Tillage reduces grasshoppers by eliminating the green plants on which grasshoppers feed.
Fields that are tilled in late summer or early fall will not attract grasshoppers for egg-laying activity. Grasshoppers seldom lay eggs in tilled fields even when a heavy covering of plant residue remains. Early spring tillage is a better option than fall tillage during seasons of drought for the obvious reasons of reducing wind erosion and trapping snow to maximize moisture for the next growing season. It is advisable to complete early spring tillage to eliminate all green growth before grasshopper egg hatching begins. Early spring tillage will also provide weed control to conserve moisture.