After harvesting, it is timely to protect against field voles

By: STA Date: 2024. 08. 07. 09:00

The National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) draws the attention of land users to the fact that the development of field vole infestation after harvesting requires increased attention. During this period, the rodents start moving from the harvested grain and rapeseed fields to the nearby areas covered with green vegetation. Fall damage caused by rodents can be mitigated by reducing the vole population in time. Several preparations and forms of use are already available for this.

(Photo: Pixabay)

It has become timely to assess the population of field voles on harvested fields and in their surroundings (e.g. on the bank of a ditch, in a forest strip protecting fields). A warm autumn, favorable for the pest, greatly contributes to its rapid increase, which has been observed several times in recent years in autumn-sown crops. The reduction in the number of plants as a result of the damage can cause a significant loss of yield. In order to prevent rodent damage in the fall, it is necessary to prepare now for which areas will require intervention with bait against the pest. By reducing the volume of voles in time, the fall damage can be reduced, for which several preparations and forms of use are available to farmers. Considering the pressure on the environment, natural protection is primarily recommended, for example the placement of T-shaped perches. However, natural population control is no longer enough against pests in the phase of overpopulation. Delayed protection is practically ineffective against the increasing number of individuals, so the damage will not be sufficiently mitigated either.