Defend Your Roots From Rodents

If there was one message rodent control specialists could get across to growers about voles, gophers, and the like, it would be that any money spent on keeping them from damaging your trees and vines might be one of your wisest investments.

“It makes sense to protect high-density plantings — a $25,000 investment per acre including rootstock, trellising and fertigation — with two treatments per dormant period to ensure rodent populations are reduced,” Chuck Hathaway, Liphatech Inc.’s Senior Market Manager-Agricultural Markets says. “It’s economical insurance. Avoiding potential lost production from vole damage over a decade of even one or two trees more than pays for the treatment cost.”

Andy Schoenherr

Andy Schoenherr

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Andy Schoenherr, Motomco’s Product Manager-Agriculture, says that it’s particularly true this year in the West.

“Whether hand-baiting near the base of a tree, in a burrow, or even an aerial application, this year in particular there has been a huge explosion in vole populations because of the mild winter,” he says.

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Here are some other key points regarding our fine, furry foes, according to Ted Bruesch, Liphatech’s Technical Services Manager, and Christian Bagocius, Motomco Crop Specialist.

 

Don’t Wait To Bait
If you’re seeing heavy rodent activity at harvest it would help to bait each block as soon as possible, rather than waiting until everything is harvested, Bagocius says. Ultimately, a lot of variables dictate applications: label instructions, time, cost, convenience, and weather may all play a role.

“Growers should work with a pest control professional to make the best decisions for their operation,” he says, “before rodents cause too much damage.”

Bruesch agrees, emphasizing that doing it as soon as possible this time of year will help growers to get in front of growing populations. There are regional differences, and northern growers have to get in soon.

“If possible, you want to get in there before snow coverage, and if you’re in an area with no snow, anytime in the winter will work,” he says. “It’s best if you can make more than one application at a time when there’s no competing food.”

Bagocius agrees that there is no better time than when rodents are active and seeking food, but that if growers don’t make fall applications, they shouldn’t despair.
“Ultimately there isn’t always a ‘best’ month or a preferred number of applications,” he says. “Each situation can be different, depending on rodent pressures, populations, and level of damage being observed.”

Copious Critters

Ted Bruesch

Ted Bruesch

The key is to stay on top of the varmints, says Bruesch. You can get caught with some pretty hefty numbers once in a while. Get in front of any additional breeding if at all possible. For that reason, he recommends baiting as much as the label allows. One application just knocks the population down, and that’s not enough.

“One application is rarely going to give you enough control. If you only get 80% control, it won’t work,” he says. “Voles are prolific animals, and if just 20% remain, the problem will quickly return.”

Both experts agree that rodent baits are restricted-use products, and must be applied according to label instructions — no exceptions whatsoever.

Finally, Bruesch adds that bait stations should be checked monthly to make sure bait is OK. If it is moldy and rank, replace it, he says before adding with a chuckle: “You don’t want the stuff that no self-respecting rodent is going to eat.” ●

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