Farmers are an essential part of the Australian economy. In fact, it’s estimated that there are at least 85,700 agricultural and farming businesses around Australia. In addition to this, the farming sector provides about 1,6 million various jobs in the broader sector and creates at least 93% of the total volume of consumed food.
This means there’s a lot of crops, produce, hay, dairy, and other food sources standing around on farms and in agricultural storage. Despite stringent hygiene practices, farmers still need to make use of the pest control Melbourne locals recommend to keep pests at bay. This post takes a look at the top benefits of investing in professional pest control for your farm.
Protect Your Harvest and Your Livelihood
Anyone in the agricultural business will agree that it can be challenging to keep pests such as cockroaches, rats, and termites out of your food stores. Fortunately, your local pest control agents have the solutions you need. Our experts have compiled a list of the most significant benefits you can expect from regular professional pest control.
- The Professionals Know Best
While it’s true that you can do some pest control as a DIY job, it’s essential to point out that spraying or applying harsh chemicals around food supplies can be harmful. With this in mind, here are the top reasons why you should always opt for professional pest control solutions:
- Skilled: Professional pest controllers are certified in mixing and applying solutions according to the regulated specifications. This ensures that the correct solutions are applied for the types of pests you’re dealing with.
- Safe solutions: Professionally mixed solutions are environmentally friendly and can be applied around people and animals, and are also safe to use in your storerooms, barns, and sheds.
- Assessments: Part of the professional pest control process involves checking and assessing your whole property to identify any potential risk areas. This includes identifying potential nesting areas as well as spaces that may be encouraging pests to move in. Open dustbins and wood piles are typical examples of this.
- Preventive maintenance: You can also schedule follow-up visits to ensure that your farm and storage facilities are routinely checked and sprayed.
- Professional recommendations: Tips and guidelines will be provided to help keep pests and other unwanted insects from contaminating your food storage. This can involve placing bags of produce on shelves rather than leaving them on the ground. Your pest controller will also recommend placing your produce and seeds in sealed containers where possible.
- Eliminate the Risk of Food Contamination
Pests of all kinds can easily cause your fresh and stored food products to become contaminated with bacteria and potentially cause disease. This can make the whole harvest in that store room inconsumable, which can hamper your profits and affect the local food chain that depends on your harvest.
A professional pest controller will use environmentally friendly products that are safe to use around seeds as well as dry and fresh produce. There’s also no risk of any employees or visitors to the business becoming ill from the chemicals used.
- Pest Control is a Legal Requirement
As with any other industry in Australia, the agricultural industry also has a long list of regulations that each farm must adhere to make the premises and business compliant. One of the key criteria in this regard is that the use of pesticides is strictly regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
This means that using pesticides in fields and storage should only be applied by professionals to ensure responsible and safe use. With this in mind, experts recommend using certified pest controllers who have experience with mixing the right solution for your specific property needs. Enlisting the professionals ensures that your business is compliant and safe from pest infestations.
- Safeguards Your Livestock and Animals
Just about every farm in Australia has animals of some sort. This can be livestock that form part of the business or pets. In these instances, you are also responsible for keeping these animals safe from harmful pesticides. Additionally, livestock can also be at risk of listeria contamination, commonly spread by moles. Other pests, such as rats and cockroaches, can spread disease to animals.
There’s also the risk of animals being exposed to parasites such as lice, worms, and flies. These can live on your livestock and make them sick. This not only contaminates the animal but also increases the risk of diseases spreading to other animals. Farms with poultry are at increased risk of animal contamination, which affects eggs, meat, and other food products.
Final Thoughts
Quality, professional pest control is a crucial aspect of keeping crops and harvested produce safe to eat and sell. Relying on the experts will ensure that your crops, equipment, and property will be safely treated regularly. This will not only boost your profits but also your brand reputation as a business that provides quality products. Give yourself the peace of mind that what you produce is always safe and uncontaminated!
