Pest management chemical producer Lodi UK has urged farmers to concentrate on the harm rodents could cause to farm equipment.

Each farm’s post-harvest rodent management technique must be to guard storage and machines from rodents, the corporate mentioned.

Pest management specialist on the firm, David Reece, mentioned baiting each inside and outdoors storage with rodent management paste can management rodents in simply seven days.

Farmers ought to search to implement options like this, he mentioned, earlier than rodent harm to equipment turns into expensive.

“Rodents will search meals, water and harbourage following harvest, usually selecting sheds the place machines are saved,” he mentioned.

“An built-in pest administration (IPM) technique is important to forestall rodents chewing by way of wires to entry meals or locations to nest, and baiting the place mandatory must be carried out to forestall or sort out infestations.”

Reece warned that equipment saved with grain or grass nonetheless connected will appeal to rodents and must be cleaned totally earlier than being saved.

Cholecalciferol baits

Reece has beneficial that farmers use cholecalciferol baits as rodents have gotten an increasing number of proof against the impact of bromadiolone and difenacoum.

Cholecalciferol baits, he mentioned, will also be used each inside and outdoors which “allows farmers to bait in all areas of the farm and cut back the impact of rodenticides to non-target species reminiscent of wild birds or livestock”.

“While a cholecalciferol bait is costlier than multi-feed baits reminiscent of bromadiolone, it requires 50% much less bait and, crucially for busy farms, far much less time to attain rodent management.

“There may be additionally the problem of resistance to contemplate. There are important areas of the UK affected by so referred to as ‘tremendous rats’ which have turn out to be proof against the impact of bromadiolone and difenacoum.”

Due to this fact, Reese mentioned utilizing another cholecalciferol bait will save the farmer each money and time while additionally serving to management the unfold of resistant rats.