Insect Pest Management in Organic Field Crops
DOWNLOADMarch 18, 2026 - Chris DiFonzo
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EmailThis guide provides detailed information on insect pests in organic field crops in Michigan. The guide is set up as a series of stand-alone chapters on individual crops: alfalfa and grass hay; dry beans; field corn; soybean; and wheat.
Each chapter has tables providing information on the following:
- A calendar showing the timing of pest presence in the season
- A checklist of the types of damage by pest, to aid in crop scouting
- Biological information such as life cycle, impact on the crop, and conditions which lead to infestation and damage
- Management, scouting, and thresholds
- OMRI-listed insecticide options
Insect pests in Michigan field crops are usually kept in check by other organisms (biological control’) and environmental factors, or by modifying agronomic practices such as planting date, harvest timing, tillage, or weed control.
Insecticides are a last resort, but this guide does provide lists of EPA-approved, OMRI (the Organic Materials Review Institute) certified products registered for organic field crops in Michigan. Pest species, rates, and precautions are taken directly from the label, as written and claimed by the company. The efficacy of individual products is not rated due to lack of information from side-by-side comparisons.
Always read the label to reconfirm key items like application rate, timings, precautions, PPE, pre-harvest intervals, etc. before making an application. Labels change over time, but more importantly using a biologically-based product often takes more knowledge and refinement than spraying a conventional pesticide. Labels provide specific details on things like insect life stage, spray timing, and treatment interval which must be followed to optimize effectiveness.
