The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2014 - Issue 33 | Page 40

ARABLE STEP-UP RAT CONTROL EFFORTS AFTER A MILD WINTER Step-up rat control efforts throughout your farmsteads around and after turn-out this spring to deal with populations that have kept well below the radar over the mild winter before they migrate to the fields, Northern farmers have been advised. This will do much to prevent the surge in infestations often seen in seasons following relatively problemfree winters by minimising summer breeding. ‘almost always less rigorous in mild winters’ “Rodenticide treatment is almost always less rigorous in mild winters when rats aren’t that obvious,” points out regional BASF rural hygiene specialist, Charlie Ives. “So, ironically, you’ll find rat populations are often healthier than normal at the end of such winters. When they move back out to the fields, therefore, high summer breeding rates can easily lead populations to explode by the end of the season. “Once rats migrate from your yards they become far more difficult to control too,” he adds. “They have a greater variety of foods to choose from. Their burrows and natural foraging routes are more difficult to pinpoint. And they become more wary of the ‘unnatural’ bait containers essential to protect other wildlife. “All this makes it important to step-up rat control as spring arrives, taking advantage of diminishing supplies of readily-available food around the yards once stock are turned-out to ensure the greatest possible rodenticide uptake with top quality baits.” Charlie advises particular vigilance in seeking out signs of rats in areas of rough ground, heaps of building materials, tyres alongside silage clamps and the more sheltered sides of livestock buildings Neosorexa Gold ® TM and forage and grain stores, in particular, insisting that evidence of infestations will almost always be found by those who look hard enough. ‘swift and aggressive external baiting’ Wherever infestations are confirmed, he recommends swift and aggressive external baiting with the UK’s Number One rodenticide, Neosorexa Gold for the much faster and more consistent difenacoum uptake its foraging grain technology ensures. Within enclosed buildings this is best complemented with Storm Secure blocks based on high potency flocoumafen that remains legally confined to indoor use for the time being. “If you only start treatment when rats become obvious you will let too many off the hook this spring,” he warns. Storm Secure ® The UK’s No1 rat and mouse bait with Fortec technology for increased bait consumption The fastest single feed, fixable block bait for rat and mouse control Enabling the most effective solutions to your pest problems. Enabling the most effective solutions to your pest problems. BASF Plc, Pest Control Solutions, PO Box 4, Earl Rd, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 6QG www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk Tel: [phone] email: [email protected] Neosorexa® Gold contains difenacoum. Storm® contains flocoumafen. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Neosorexa® and Storm® are registered trademarks of BASF. STORM IS FOR INDOOR USE ONLY. DS195 - Storm and Neosorexa Split advert.indd 5 40 Apr/May 2014 FarmersMart 07/04/2014 09:18:57 To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk