Ukrainian farmers suffer losses due to a rodent invasion

This year’s weather conditions contribute to the spread of rodents in the fields. Dry and warm autumn is the perfect weather for rodents. Another reason for the rodent invasion may be cyclic development, when the population grows to the maximum level during a certain period, writes “Agro-Center”.

Farmers in western Ukraine suffer from the rodent invasion. The greatest damage was caused in those fields where soils had been minimally processed. Farmers of Rivne, Volyn, and Ternopil regions were affected the most.

“There are so many mice. They migrate from field to field – we harvested soy, they moved to corn, we harvested corn, they moved to winter crops. And these mice are so fat and large, I haven’t seen such mice in my 62 years. What’s going on is crazy! The situation is very tense,”

said Mikhail Salamandra, a farmer at the company “Dari Laniv”.

In order to fight rodents, farmers have to use chemical or biological rodenticides. It is common to use biological rodenticides that infect rodents with typhus. These rodenticides are safer for other living organisms as they affect only rodents.

Farmers who deeply plowed their fields don’t suffer from rodent invasion. Deep plowing is most effective as it helps to control the development rodent nests.

“One can immediately see, which field wee deeply plowed and which were not – there are much fewer mice. Mouse nests are situated at a depth of 15 – 25 centimeters. During deep plowing, the plow mechanically destroys the nests, food supplies and rodents themselves. Shallow plowing does not cause any damage to rodents,”

said Lesya Matsko, sales manager at “Agroprestizh”.

Farmers deeply plowed their fields say they have no problem with rodents:

“At the moment, there is no problem with rodents in winter wheat and turnip crops. Same as last year. We take care of preventive measures and use deep plowing,”

said Viktor Yekhymenko.