W hile farmers spend considerable amounts of money on maximising the quality and yield of their crops , how many do enough to ensure it remains in tip-top condition while in storage over the winter ? With profit margins dictated by quality and quantity , protecting key assets at this time of year is a number one priority – and that means taking every possible precaution .
Adopting the right pest control strategy is therefore essential to ensure that major investment is secure and that months , if not years , of hard work is not wasted .
It will also ensure you can supply detailed information on pest management for any potential auditing process .
Farmers who carry out their own pest control , or leaving it to their farm manager , must ensure regular inspections of buildings and stores are carried out and that up-to-date records are kept of what , where and how any work has been carried out .
Any infestations that have occurred must be listed and documents must contain details of ongoing recommendations made and completed .
Regular inspections are essential to good pest control , but it ’ s vital the person carrying out the work is adequately trained and taking part in a Continuing Professional Development ( CPD ) scheme , such as BASIS PROMPT .
That ensures they ’ re keeping up to date with the current legislation and the latest products and techniques .
Inadequate or sporadic pest control , or even out-of-date records , will be deemed unacceptable and could land farmers in hot water – with their profits down the drain .
There are , of course , those who bring in the cheapest controller they can find in the hope of saving money . But that kind of approach has serious pitfalls too .
The use of technicians who are not properly qualified , or whose training may be either very basic or out-dated , can lead to illegal products or techniques being used .
The farm owner would be deemed responsible for any issues that may arise - and controllers who are not affiliated to proper bodies may well carry no liability insurances either .
The best , and most effective , pest control strategy for
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conscientious farmers is simply to employ a company that has the knowledge , training and qualifications expected of a professional organisation .
Their technicians will have the skills to offer advice and , if necessary , deal with any species of pests , including rodents , stored product insects , rabbits , moles and birds .
They ’ ll have attended courses , passed exams and will know how to use the most effective products and techniques . They will also provide the comprehensive records required - delivering crucial peace of mind . Prevention and control
Rodents can spread a wide number of viruses , bacteria and parasites that can have affect the health of both humans and animals .
They can also cause substantial damage to farm buildings by gnawing on electrical wires , gas pipes and water tanks .
Fires in farm buildings can also be attributed to rodent infestations and the small print in your insurance documents may exclude rodent-caused damage from your policy .
So once the right pest control strategy has been chosen , it ’ s important to take a step back and consider how to prevent and control the core pests that have the potential to cause the most damage to your business .
What can be done to discourage them from gaining access to and / or setting up home in such sensitive areas ?
Well , rats especially are animals of habit . They like to feel comfortable in their environment and the less it ’ s disturbed , the better it is for them .
If you ’ ve been meaning to tidy up or have long-standing items around the farm to throw away , remove them immediately .
By doing so , you ’ ll start to remove areas where rodents can live and , by modifying their environment , deter them from moving into buildings .
When you do get signs of activity , act upon them as soon as possible .
Anticoagulant rodenticides are , of course , now subject to strict control under the stewardship regime and anyone administering such products must be professionally trained .
Farmers qualified to use them must ensure they ’ re using enough to control the infestation and are visiting the bait on a regular basis to ensure it ’ s replenished as required and there has been no spillage
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likely to contaminate non-target species .
Those who don ’ t have the proper credentials would again be well advised to bring in an expert pest controller to avoid any breach of legislation . Grain storage pests
The principal causes of spoilage in stored grain are fungi , insects and mites , but it ’ s vital that any pests found are correctly identified , monitored and controlled appropriately .
Infestations of pests such as the sawtooth grain beetle and grain weevil can be devastating as unchecked infestations will decimate stored grain and render it useless .
And as always in such situations , prevention is better than cure . By cooling the grain to temperatures of 15 ° C , insect breeding and development can be slowed down and eventually stopped .
Complement the cooling of grain with regular inspections to product and storage areas - again by a suitably qualified controller - and farmers can ensure any infestation is spotted early and that insect activity can be dealt with before any major damage occurs .
For those who do find evidence of insects , rapid action is required and fumigation with a metallic phosphide will usually be the most suitable course of action .
Treatment must be carried out by a professionally qualified operator who understands the pest , the product and the treatment site . Seven steps to choosing the right pest control contractor
Consider the following : 1 The ability of the contractor to carry out a full survey of the premises and present a clear report with action points , recommendations and a firm quotation of costs . 2 Evidence of adequate technical resources and of correctly trained and qualified service staff , supervisors and management , such as membership of PROMPT . 3 The register is a list of pest control managers and technicians
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with a recognised industry qualification who agree to abide by a written Code of Professional Ethics and can prove their technical knowledge is up-to-date . To stay on the register , members must obtain a prescribed number of CPD points .
4 Proof of adequate public liability , product liability and employers ’ liability insurance cover . 5 The capacity to provide proofing and other preventative measures such as advice on housekeeping , storage , waste disposal , cleaning and the detection and monitoring of pest populations .
6 Reporting procedures giving clear accountability on both sides . 7 Clear contract terms to specify the pests to be covered , frequency of visits , responsibility for preventative measures , arrangements for extra treatments or emergency call-outs .
8 Every member of the British Pest Control Association is not only professionally qualified to carry out thorough inspections and administer treatments , but also to offer advice that could prove crucial in the months to come .
9 Companies allied to the trade body are obliged to train staff to a particular level and ensure they ’ re on a recognised CPD scheme .
10 They will also have either achieved or be working towards CEPA Certified status - a quality standard recognised throughout Europe .
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