Agriculture and Farming Pest Control
In farming and agriculture, pest control is a vital tool to help ensure you’re meeting standards set out by a number of organisations and auditing bodies.
At Pest Defence, we’re accredited for farm pest control and agriculture pest control, which means you can have confidence when it comes to your work wherever you are in Chelmsford, Colchester, Brentwood and the surrounding rural areas of Essex.
As an agricultural pest control specialist, we’re Red Tractor-approved, helping you meet strict standards for your farming environment and produce. We can also help you meet audit requirements set out by The Soil Association for pest control in organic farming.
Common pests found in farm and agriculture
Pests can appear on your farm in several ways and pose various risks to livestock, buildings and equipment. Here are some of the common pests found in farming and agricultural environments:
- Rats and mice – Rodent control on farms is crucial as they can spread disease, contaminate crops and even present a fire risk if they gnaw through wires or cables on your property.
- Flying insects – A variety of flying insect pests on farms can compromise stock and negatively impact your otherwise healthy livestock.
- Stored Product Insects (SPIs) – This can include weevils and beetles that gain a foothold in your grains and other commodities. This then reduces your potential revenue and could damage your reputation.
Agricultural pest control methods
As specialists in this industry, our team can work with you to choose and deploy a range of agricultural pest control methods depending on the severity of the issue and the type of environment.
The following are examples of industry methods, all of which can help to improve your yields and protect you from financial loss.
- Chemical pesticides – Whether spraying or dusting, chemicals specifically designed to eliminate pests, chemical pesticides can help to control a pest issue. However, they are not always suitable as they may also remove insects beneficial to your ecosystem.
- Biological pest control – As an environmentally-friendly alternative, this uses other insects to control populations of pests and is considered to be a sustainable method.
- Physical pest control – This involves the implementation of traps, barriers and covers to protect your crops and surrounding infrastructure.
- Cultural pest control – By using the environment to your advantage – either through pest-resistant crop variants or changing your planting arrangements – you can create an agricultural space that is less inviting to pests.
Common signs of an infestation
Common signs of an infestation of pests on farms and in agriculture include:
- Crop damage – Includes chewed plants, holes and scarring on leaves, stunted growth or distorted and discoloured leaves.
- Visible pests – Whether insects or rodents, if you see these pests, it’s likely you have an infestation.
- Droppings – From rodents or birds, droppings indicate the presence of pests, usually around buildings.
For farmers requiring pest control, look no further than our approved services. We help you to protect your produce and your business while satisfying the necessary standards in the industry. We have over 25 years of experience and can recommend the right course of action in any situation.
Contact us today for a rapid response from a professional and reliable pest control company in Essex, London and the surrounding rural regions.