PESTAWARE

Experts at British Pest Control Association (BPCA) are encouraging farmers to check stored farm machinery for pests over the winter to avoid discovering costly damage in the spring.

In 2023/24, farms in England spent £2.3 billion on machinery, with the average farm spending £35,500. 

The highest average (median) spend was on tractors, at £62.8 thousand, an increase of 14% compared to 2022/23.

With such significant investment needed, some simple steps to help protect machinery from pest damage is time well spent, says Niall Gallagher, Technical Manager at BPCA.

He said: “For rats and mice seeking somewhere to overwinter, warm, enclosed spaces with easy access to food sources such as corn bins, haylofts and grain silos are ideal.

“And while every farmer knows the risk that rodents can pose through contamination and wastage of livestock feed, the damage to farm machinery that can be caused by their gnawing habits is less well known.

“A machinery store that is largely undisturbed during the winter can be an ideal nesting spot, especially if it is near to hay barns or livestock sheds which offer a variety of food sources.

“Rats and mice need to gnaw to maintain their teeth and have been known to chew through cables, pipes, plastic, metal and even brick.

“As they settle down and start to explore, they will discover that opportunities for gnawing are many and varied amongst the inner workings of large farm vehicles and machinery, and if left to their own devices, their rapid breeding cycles will ensure that the population of rodents that need to gnaw can increase very quickly.” 

Some simple steps farmers can take to protect machinery from rodent damage include:

• Check sheds and under tarpaulins for any signs of rodent activity
• Keep food bins and stores securely closed to avoid attracting rodents looking for food
• Trim back any long grass or weeds around sheds as these provide sheltered routes of travel for rats and mice
• Act quickly if an infestation is suspected.

Niall added: “BPCA members are pest professionals who work with farmers year-round to avoid infestation issues and improve productivity, along with being able to assist farmers in meeting assured food standards to better protect their businesses.

“Establishing a cycle of pest inspections and acting on any prevention recommendations is often the cheapest and most effective way to prevent pests putting your livestock, food stores and machinery at risk.

BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA’s Codes of Best Practice.

To find a BPCA member visit: bpca.org.uk/find.

Source: Online