Grasshoppers gnaw at Saskatchewan organic growers’ resolve

Originally published September 15, 2023 on OrganicBiz

By Dave Bedard

A report out of Saskatchewan finds organic crop growers there under increasing pressures from grasshoppers, with few options to keep the pest in check — and some considering falling back on conventional chemistry.

Regina-based organic ag development body SaskOrganics conducted a grower survey on the matter from June 30 to July 16 and published a final version of its report earlier this month.

The report found more growers expected to lose a larger percentage of their crops to grasshoppers in 2023 compared to actual losses in 2022. Of 51 respondents to the survey, almost two thirds were operating in southwest or west-central Saskatchewan.

“Since the extreme drought of 2021 the grasshoppers have been overwhelming organic crops,” one respondent was quoted as saying. “We have significantly reduced our organic acres because it is just not possible to bring a crop through this type of severe grasshopper pressure.”

Out of the 51, 11 (21 per cent) said they expect 11-20 per cent of their crops wouldn’t be harvested this year due to grasshopper damage, up from six (12 per cent) who lost that much crop in 2022. Three growers (six per cent) said they expected not to harvest 71-80 per cent of their crop, up from one reporting that level of loss in 2022.

Grasshopper damage also has “medium- to longer-term impact” on organic farms, SaskOrganics said, as fields stripped by the pests are more at risk from erosion by wind and/or water. About 62 per cent of respondents expected to see 10 per cent or more of their field area affected by such damage

The survey found 11 growers had tried allowable organic inputs, such as fungal product SPE-120, diatomaceous earth, or combinations of sugar, molasses and vinegar as controls. Twenty-two had seeded crops less susceptible to grasshoppers — or combinations including such crops — to try to keep the pests in check.

Past that, some respondents said they might, or already did, drop organic certification on some or all of their acres. One respondent had already taken all land out of organic, two had some land decertified and 14 others were considering those options.

Those numbers, SaskOrganics said, “may change in the future if the grasshopper problem is as serious as it has been for some organic producers for the past few years.”

Also, SaskOrganics said, while organic growers “do their best to use all the tools available to them under the Canadian Organic Standard to control grasshoppers,” a heavy infestation can strain or damage growers’ relationships with neighbouring landowners. Eight (16 per cent) said the matter has “negatively impacted” relationships with neighbours.

In all, SaskOrganics said, its survey shows “we risk losing organic producers and acres” to grasshoppers.

While crop insurance was seen as an “important risk mitigation tool” for affected growers, growers need “permitted inputs that are effective and economical for large-scale crop production” along with “consistent and accurate information” on control options that are already allowed — plus more research on effective crop rotation options.

Absent other options, one respondent suggested “perhaps a harvester and a market for the grasshoppers themselves” is needed.

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