PB1667 Control of Vole Damage in No-till Soybeans

Voles are a problem for farmers using minimum and no-till technologies for soybean production, because voles feed on soybeans from the time they are established until they are harvested. This problem is expected to increase as land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is returned to row crops. Retaining established cover through no-till farming decreases erosion, improves water quality, increases wildlife habitat and conserves moisture when compared to conventional tillage practices. However, voles that have established colonies and flourished beneath the cover established under CRP, crop residue or hay crops can devastate crop plantings. Significant stand reductions have been reported in no-till soybeans where vole numbers are high.