A Dutch family has set up an innovative fly trap at its dairy farm in the Netherlands as an alternative to insecticides. So far, the results look promising.
Mattias and Coriene Verhoef have been reducing the use of chemicals on their farms for several years and see significant differences in biodiversity on their farms.
“The number of birds and bats has increased significantly,” Ms. Verhoef said, adding that they also noticed that the cow dung on their farm was quickly disappearing and that it was overgrown with grass within a few weeks.
But, as these farmers reduce the amount of chemicals, they still want to get rid of flies. A huge number of flies can accumulate on the farm and around the cows, especially during the hot summer months.
Various chemicals are available, but these chemicals often fall into the pasture and can be harmful to populations of beneficial insects, agricultural land, and the environment as a whole.
The idea of a flytrap that originated in Australia is a dark tunnel located between a stable and a pasture. A little light penetrates the roof. When the cow passes through the tunnel, the flies are attracted to the light and trapped in the gable roof. This special flycatcher was made possible by the Winst en Weidevogels project.
Video: Dutch farmers use an original fly trap
