Farmers Urged to Step Up Fight Against Rodents Ahead of Temperatures Dropping

As the colder months approach, farmers across the UK are being warned to brace for an increase in rodent activity. Lower temperatures drive rats and mice to seek warmth and food, making barns, silos, and livestock areas prime targets. To safeguard crops, livestock, and stored goods, it's crucial for farmers to act preemptively against the growing rodent threat.

The Threat Rodents Pose to Agriculture

Rodents are far more than a nuisance; they are a serious threat to farm operations. Rats and mice can:

• Damage Crops and Stored Feed: Gnawing on grain sacks and stored feed can lead to significant financial losses.
• Spread Disease: Rodents carry harmful pathogens such as leptospirosis and salmonella, which can infect both livestock and humans.
• Compromise Equipment: Gnawing on electrical wires and machinery can result in costly repairs.

With a single pair of rodents capable of producing hundreds of offspring in a year, the problem can escalate quickly if left unchecked.

Our advisor Dave Reece says “Rodents not only spread disease and contaminate feed, but they also cause damage to infrastructure and machinery by chewing through electric cables and weakening concrete floors and walls through their burrowing.”

Preparing for the Cold: Proactive Rodent Control

To tackle the rodent surge effectively, preparation is key. Here are some essential steps farmers can take:

1. Inspect and Proof Buildings Rodents can squeeze through tiny gaps. So, we suggest inspecting your property for cracks, gaps & holes, particularly around pipes and doors, and seal these entry points to keep rodents out.
2. Eliminate Food and Water Sources Rodents thrive in environments with easy access to food and water. Secure feed bins with airtight lids and fix any leaks in water systems.
3. Implement Continuous Monitoring Throughout rodent season, keep an eye out for any early signs of rodent activity - droppings, chew marks, footprints, tail marks, pathways or even listen out for unusual sounds. The earlier you detect a problem, the easier it will be to manage.

Products Designed for Farmers

Lodi UK offers a one-stop-shop for rodent control, expertise and in-house technical advice. A comprehensive range of professional rodenticides and amateur baits, designed to target rodents swiftly and effectively. Best practice choosing the right products for your unique situation, infestation type and using products in the right way, you can eliminate rodents both safely and efficiently.

Key Lodi UK Professional Rodenticides:

• Lodi’s Gems: No.1 supplier of professional use of rodenticides. Lodi are the only UK manufacturer to offer three families of active ingredients. A choice of baits in single-feed & multi-feed formulations, offering an armoury of true alternatives for all year-round rodent control. Leading the way in sustainable pest control solutions with responsible recycling and colour by the bucketload. Your favourite rodent control range has been given a new look. Our 100% recycled bait buckets decreases Lodi UK’s plastic consumption by over 57%, that's baiting made better!
• Harmonix Rodent Paste: Forming part of the Lodi’s Gems range, Harmonix® Rodent Paste is a highly effective ready-to-use non-anticoagulant rodenticide for the control of rodents. Twice the speed, using half the bait compared to traditional rodenticides. Proven control within 7 days with 50% less bait and no known resistance. Providing an innovative and flexible solution to rodent problems, which left untreated can lead to disease, property damage, fire risk, and costly repairs. You can explore this innovative product in more detail here.

Top Tips for Responsible Rodent Control

Using rodenticides isn’t just about baiting and hoping for the best. To achieve results while minimising risks to pets and wildlife, it’s essential to follow best practices. If you would like to find out more about our baiting top tips check out our blog here.

1. Strategic Placement: Rodents tend to move along walls and stick to familiar routes. Place bait stations along these pathways, especially near areas where you’ve noticed droppings, gnaw marks, or nesting materials.
2. Use Bait Stations: Always follow the product label for guidance. It is recommended to place rodenticides inside covered and locked bait stations to protect pets, children, and non-target wildlife from accidental ingestion. Lodi UK offers various tamper-proof bait stations to ensure safe application.
3. Protect yourself: When handling chemicals, gloves are a must. Rodents also have an acute sense of smell and may be wary of anything that carries human scent. Wearing gloves when handling bait helps prevent rodents from detecting your scent.
4. Monitor and Replenish: Regularly monitor and check bait stations to see if the bait has been disturbed, taken or consumed. Replace or replenish bait as necessary and with the label guidance and continue monitoring until all signs of rodent activity have disappeared. If in doubt always seek advice from a professional pest controller.
5. Rotate Baits: Rodents can sometimes become resistant or wary to certain types of bait. To avoid this, it’s wise to rotate between different rodenticide types. Lodi UK offers a variety of formulations (paste, grain and block), as well as anticoagulant and non-anticoagulant alternatives to help with this.