Farmers, rural property owners and farm managers are spoilt for choice when it comes to rodenticide technology. The numerous active ingredients and formulations available mean solutions can be tailored to almost every situation they’re likely to encounter. Rapid bait uptake can be achieved irrespective of the prevailing site conditions and competing food sources. But the potency of the solutions at their disposal gives farmers and their advisers a significant level of responsibility.

Mark Wilson is the Technical Services Manager of BASF’s Professional & Specialty Solutions Division, which produces a large range of other market-leading products for professional pest controllers as well as rodenticides.

“With so many very powerful and attractive rodenticides available to them,” he says, “rural users really need to select the right approach for each situation. They should be aiming to minimise the risks of non-target poisoning, residues and other potential site impacts while also maximising control. That comes down to a combination of choosing the most appropriate baiting method and the right active ingredient.”

There are three main types of rodenticide active ingredients available. First-generation anticoagulants present a relatively low risk of secondary poisoning, Mark Wilson explains.  “However, these older active ingredients are much less effective than the newer actives in controlling rodents. Rodents need to feed on them more than once to get a lethal dose and in many instances they’ve developed resistance to the more widely used compounds such as warfarin.”

Mark recommends that users choose between advanced second-generation anticoagulants or a non-anticoagulant depending on the location and nature of the pest pressure.

“Second-generation anticoagulants are substantially more potent than the first-generation compounds and a lethal dose can be ingested in a single feed,” he says. “But that improved efficacy comes with an elevated risk of secondary non-target poisoning. So this class of rodenticides can only be used inside buildings and within two metres of them in order to reduce the risk to non-target predators like scavenging birds and birds of prey.”

There are two powerful second-generation anticoagulants in BASF’s Storm range. “Storm Secure is a highly compressed wax block with whole grain palatability, and excellent durability. It’s a great maintenance product that can be put out around farm buildings and will last all year round. Storm Soft Bait has a unique, high oil content that can help attract rodents away from other food sources in difficult-to-control situations. It delivers the same lethal dose as Storm Secure in a single feed.”

While the Storm formulations are versatile pest-control products that can be used in both farm buildings and factories, Selontra Soft Bait is a more advanced solution that takes both rodent control and the protection of non-target animals to the next level. “Selontra’s active ingredient really stands out,” says Mark Wilson. “It’s in a third category. It’s not an anticoagulant and it’s a naturally occurring compound that’s neither persistent nor bio-accumulative in the body or environment. Even better, Selontra has a stop-feed effect which limits intake beyond a lethal dose. The combination of those factors means Selontra presents an extremely low risk of secondary poisoning as the active content is quickly metabolised and is at relatively low levels within poisoned animals.”

Add in outstanding palatability and Selontra makes an exceptionally efficient rodenticide for use in sensitive, high-pressure environments like piggeries and poultry farms. Selontra baits must always be placed in secure lockable stations. That security and its low secondary poisoning and environmental profile have allowed the flexibility to use it away from buildings in applications such as along fencelines and some in-crop situations.

“Selontra is definitely the product of choice wherever feed, site or produce contamination or non-target poisoning are a concern. It has been a big hit for intensive animal production systems and around grain storages. Now Selontra’s also approved for in-crop use. It’s registered in macadamias with minor and emergency use permits for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and other rubus crops.”

Mark Wilson recognises the diversity of pest-control challenges on farms. “There are always going to be different priorities in different situations,” he agrees. “But users have plenty of good products to choose from. We’d just encourage their suppliers to help them understand the rewards of choosing the right type of rodenticide for the job and using it in a way that minimises impact on non-target species and the environment.”

For more information about BASF’s rodenticide range and strategic baiting programs, visit crop-solutions.basf.com.au/solutions/pest/rodent-solutions.