Timothy is a cool season grass grown as high quality forage in many of the Western states. Research on arthropod pest management is limited in timothy and several arthropod pests are serendipitously managed by growers and treatment options for many of these pests are also limited. Thrips are an important pest affecting hay quality in California. We have been working to establish an IPM program for thrips by exploring seasonal dynamics, sampling methods, cultural controls, intra-plant pest distribution, timing of chemical application, and threshold levels. Current results indicate that the majority of thrips in California timothy are grass thrips (Anaphothrips obscurus Müller), with a much lower proportion of Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergrande). In timothy, thrips typically occupy the top portion of timothy tillers and are often found in the fold between the blade, sheath and main stem. They can easily be sampled with direct observation or by beating tillers. Thrips affect hay quality, rather than yield, but control using cyfluthrin can flare mite populations. They appear to disperse with macropterous phenotypes in the fall, but because they can be found in the fields year-round, burning of crop residue during the dormant period, i.e., winter, can manage populations. Management thresholds are still in development as more is learned about population dynamics and the amount of damage that thrips can cause.