Impact and Potential Control Measures for Vole Populations in No-Till Soybean Fields.

Cover crops have been implemented to help decrease loss of soil to erosion, improve soil quality, and act as a part of an integrated weed management strategy. Adoption rates have been high across the country but not without new problems arising for some producers. The act of planting crops and having vegetation present during winter months has meant the creation of quality vole habitat within cover cropped fields. Unfortunately, little is understood about the extent of damage voles are having or any techniques to limit or control vole populations within soybean fields. This issue is mostly related to restrictions associated with rodenticide application within production fields. An integrated pest management strategy may also be necessary to have the most success in limiting vole populations and their damage to growing plants. In order to understand the extent of impact vole populations are having within Kentucky, we will survey producers across the state about the cover crops they are using and any problems they are experiencing with voles. Paired with this will be a field survey occurring ~1-2 months post emergence to quantify the percentage and extent that soybean fields are being impacted within Kentucky. To help provide producers with management solutions, we will test three different “burn down” time periods on cover crops prior to planting on vole populations. We will test the hypothesis that the longer duration of time cover crops are no longer providing food and cover within fields is correlated with lowering vole damage occurring to newly planted soybean plants and their subsequent yields. Overall the project will provide an estimate of monetary losses to Kentucky soybean producers from vole damage. As well as providing an initial assessment of the methods that have been suggested as a means to reduce soybean damage from voles.