Farmers using anticoagulant rodenticide products in their operations are now required to be trained and certified as competent in their use under the latest stewardship rules that came into play on 1st October 2016.

Now, all rodenticide products, over 1.5kg in pack size include a ‘stewardship phrase’ stating that they can only be applied by qualified individuals, or by members of certain farm assurance schemes.

To become qualified, farmers must enrol in an accredited training course and pass an exam. The courses are run by a number of organisations that are all recognised by CRUU (Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use), which promotes appropriate use for rodent control products.

There are approximately 11 different qualifications to choose from, which can be taken at various venues across the country on numerous dates. And for those that are unable to attend a classroom based session, there are online training courses, such as one run by the British Pest Control Association, which concludes with an online BASIS exam: www.bpca.org.uk/pages/index.cfm?page_id=7

The rodenticide training courses have already seen a great uptake of attendance from farmers. Richard Moseley, Bayer technical manager, hopes to see more farmers sign up before 31st March 2017, which is the deadline date to use up any remaining stock of old label products.

Some farm assurance schemes are stewardship-approved and membership will allow farmers to continue to purchase products with the updated labelling until December 2017.

The new regulations have been introduced because of growing concern about the toxicity of anticoagulant rodenticides, that account for the vast majority of baits in the UK, as well as resistance to some of the active ingredients.

One pest controller that’s pleased to see the new regulations come into force is St Austell based Keith Perks, owner of Keith Perks and Son Pest Control. “The new stewardship rules mean that anyone applying anticoagulant rodenticides are properly trained in their use and fully understand just how much rodenticide is actually required to kill a rat.”

Keith hopes that now the stewardship rules are being implemented, resistance issues will be reduced, as there should be less misapplication of products, so when a bait is applied, it will be done so effectively, and rodents will be killed when they first ingest the product.

Keith was recently called to a job where a farmer had been trying to eradicate the rats in his workshop for over three months to no avail. He believes that this was down to misunderstanding of application rates, and he hopes that this will occur a lot less frequently now that individuals applying rodenticide must be trained.

“The infestation had got so bad that the farmer would no longer enter his workshop, and when I walked in at four o’clock in the afternoon and there were over 20 rats scattered around the room staring at me as if they owned the place,” says Keith

“I placed Bayer Rodilon® Soft Blocks in the small gaps and cracks in the workshop walls, as you don’t always need to put them in a bait box if they are secured. When I returned six days later I pulled out a bin bag full of 21 dead rats – the farmer couldn’t believe his eyes.”

Rodilon® Soft Blocks are now Keith’s ‘go to’ bait and he has real confidence in them for a wide variety of situations after being impressed with their efficacy when initially testing them. “They seem to be irresistible, quite often I can’t get a take on a normal block bait, but the Soft Blocks aren’t overloaded with flavourings and the attractant isn’t overpowering. I think rats have got used to the strong peanut-like smell of multifeeds and often avoid them.

“It takes just one sachet to deliver a lethal dose in one feed, so the rat won’t have enough time to work out that the bait’s made it feel unwell and this therefore reduces the chances of bait shyness, as well as making the job a lot easier,” says Keith

“Half way through clearing the farm I knew there were a lot of rats in a small safe area, so I secured a few Soft Blocks down and went to get my air rifle from the van, which was only 25 yards away, when I came back all the bait had gone, so it’s clearly very appealing to rats,” adds Keith.

Both farmers and pest controllers should see a great benefit from the training. Farmers will be able to gain control more effectively using the knowledge learned and pest controllers’ jobs will be made easier, as individuals that employ their services will not put down the wrong amount of rodenticide, which can lead to resistance.

For more information on Rodilon® Soft Block email pestsolutions@bayer.com or call 00800 1214 9451 and to find out if the new stewardship rules apply to you visit www.thinkwildlife.org

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Rodent control options for 2017

• Use up stock already purchased, until 31st March 2017

• Obtain a CRRU aligned certificate

• Demonstrate membership of a CRRU approved farm assurance scheme (until 31st December 2017)

• Bring in a professional pest controller

• Purchase amateur products of up to 1.5kg in pack size

CRRU approved farm assurance schemes

Members of the following schemes do not require an additional qualification to purchase or apply rodenticides until 31st December 2017:

• British Egg Industry Council Code of Practice for Lion Eggs

• Duck Assurance Scheme (Breeder Replacement, Breeder Layers, Hatcheries, Table Birds, Free-Range Table Birds)

• Agricultural Industries Confederation (Compound Feeds, Combinable Crops and Animal Feeds)

• Red Tractor Farm Assurance (Beef and Lamb, Dairy, Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet, Fresh Produce, Pigs, Poultry)

• Quality Meat Scotland (Cattle and Sheep, Pigs)

• Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (Beef and Lamb)

• Scottish Quality Crops

• Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (Beef and Lamb, Cereals)

• Quality British Turkey