Conditions favour snail baiting

Grain growers are encouraged to take advantage of cool and moist weather conditions to bait snails.

Agronomic consultant Bill Long says now is an ideal time to apply bait and make an impact on snail populations.

“It is critical that growers get bait out before snails mate and lay eggs, so if rainfall events and dewy conditions stimulate snail activity, I suggest they commence baiting programs if they haven’t already done so,” said Mr Long, who is a member of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Southern Regional Panel.

Mr Long said baiting was most effective in paddocks which had been sprayed out and presented no alternative food sources for snails.

The GRDC’s Snail Management Fact Sheet, which can be viewed and downloaded via www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-FS-SnailManagement, provides information on baiting and other methods of control as part of a year-round approach to controlling snails.

More information on integrated snail management is contained in the GRDC publication Bash ’em, Burn ’em, Bait ’em which isavailable for viewing and downloading via www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-Snails-BashBurnBait

Further information on integrated pest management is available from the GRDC via www.grdc.com.au/pestlinks.

The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), with GRDC support, has produced a table of information for comparing snail and slug bait products.

It is available via the SARDI website at

www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/pests/biological_control/snail_management