Welcome to the second of the monthly columns on what is going down on our farms in Rosebank at the moment.

It is intended as general advice for those who know from 'nothing to much more about farming'. Also, I am limiting this advice to macadamias and coffee, which seem to be the main crops grown in the area, however next month will be branching out into other crops - so stay tuned!

Well, RATS! Yes, they are here. As we know they have enjoyed our environment and company since they hitched a ride with the First Fleet. Once finding a food source it seems almost impossible to rid yourself of them. Unfortunately with crops such as macadamias providing a food source for them they can reproduce in 'droves'. Farmers in the area seem to use two sources of elimination. Firstly, farmers use baits containing anticoagulants like Warfarin and Bormadioline, which are readily available. This can take up to three days to kill rats and in this time the effected rat can be taken by a bird of prey, such as a brown owl or domestic dog or cat. The predator then becomes ill and bleeds internally. Unless urgent care is provided both will die. Many of our native raptors and snakes, birds etc. die this way every year. It also should be noted that because of the breeding cycle of rats - baits simply cannot keep up with their level of productivity.

The good news is that many farmers have realised the futility of baits and now the Australian Macadamia Society in unison with Rous Water and Rainforest Rescue are working together to encourage farmers to regenerate rainforest areas. In doing this it creates a buffer zone between the agricultural land and the rainforest/riparian areas. In this way the favoured food source for rats, tobacco bush and lantana will be reduced and the buffer zone also provides a 'filtering' of sediments where streams flow.

On many macadamia and coffee plantations in our area you may see big boxes sitting in prime locations on farms. These are brown/barn owl boxes, designed to encourage brown owls to use the trees as their habitat area. An adult brown/barn owl can consume up to 3 rats per day!

You will also probably see farmers slashing their inter-row grasses (grasses between crops) down this time of year. This is referred to as cutting the grass to 'rats ears level'. Obviously enabling the farmer to see where the problem areas are.

In coffee trees, rats can create 'coffee nest castles' in the top of the trees, braking down the top branches of the coffee tree and are a great pest to the coffee growers, who are trying to maintain and nurture their trees. Of course some farmers do nothing and hope for minimal damage, some use baits. On our farm, as on many farms, we are encouraging bird life, keeping the grass levels low - and of course hoping for a good crop!

All the best until next month,

Cath Ford

back