Lodi UK has advised farmers to make protection from rodents for both storage and machinery a key part of a post-harvest strategy, as damage caused is often not covered by insurance firms and can be hugely costly.
Pest control specialist David Reece said: “Baiting both inside and outside storage with a rodent control paste such as Harmonix® can control rodents in just seven days. This bait is one of the few non-anticoagulants on the market and therefore rodents have no known resistance to its cholecalciferol active ingredient.”
According to the company, the speed at which Harmonix works makes it well-suited to tackling rodents before damage is caused. It has a stop feed effect in two to three days, stopping rodents from feeding and leading to control within seven days.
“Rodents will seek food, water and harbourage following harvest, often choosing sheds where machines are stored. An integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is essential to prevent rodents chewing through wires to access food or places to nest, and baiting where necessary should be carried out to prevent or tackle infestations,” Mr Reece said.
He added that any machinery with residual grass or grain still attached should be cleaned thoroughly before storage, and that monitoring for signs of rodent activity is as important as using bait as rodents can strike within a couple of days.
“Cholecalciferol baits like Harmonix can be used both inside and outside. This enables farmers to bait in all areas of the farm and reduce the effect of rodenticides on non-target species such as wild birds or livestock,” he explained.
While it might be more expensive than multi-feed baits, Mr Reece noted that cholecalciferol requires around 50% less bait in target areas and takes less time to reach control.
“There is also the issue of resistance to consider. There are significant areas of the UK affected by so-called ‘super rats’ that have become resistant to the effect of bromadiolone and difenacoum. Therefore, using an alternative cholecalciferol bait will save time and money, whilst also helping to control the spread of resistant rats,” he concluded.
For more information go to www.lodi-uk.com