I need help........lots of help please

[Ger-annie-um]

We've had our allotment for 7 yrs now and have thoroughly enjoyed having it, until now! The allotment is on a farm and we've got used to 'sharing' some of our produce with the resident wild life but this year they've gone too far. Rodents have munched their way through ......4 rows carrots, 3 rows parsnips, 3 rows swede (we like swede), 1 row beetroot, cabbages and previously had pretty much all our sweetcorn. We know it was not birds or rabbits because everything is netted and has windbreaks/chicken wire around the beds (12m x 4.5m each). It's made us want to give up.
Anyone got any ideas of how we can prevent/lessen the same thing happening next year. We're in our 70's and, even though we love the allotment for many reasons, can see no point in all the very hard work for no gain.

[veggiechicken]

By rodents, do you mean rats, mice, squirrels?

[Snadger]

If you have a rat infestation I think the local council are obliged to deal with it?

[greenishfing]

For rats/mice traps? Trouble is I am so phobic about them I wouldn't even be able to empty them. Air gun? My preferred option. Dogs that like chasing rats? Are there any deterrent options. I once read mint deters them. It doesn't!

[Ger-annie-um]

By rodents, do you mean rats, mice, squirrels?

Definitely rats/mice/moles

[Ger-annie-um]

If you have a rat infestation I think the local council are obliged to deal with it?

Not on an allotment on farmland apparently

[burnie]

I had rats in my compost, I was advised that human urine is a great deterrent, you don't have to go to the loo on your lottie. I used an old empty bottle that had fabric softener in it, used this in the loo and then sprinkled the contents around and in my compost bin, No rats and this also adds nutrients and acts as a good accelerator for the compost. Keeps foxes away too apparently.

[veggiechicken]

Definitely rats/mice/moles

Have you seen tunnels under the wire netting and mole hills in the soil?
Just trying to identify which beasts are responsible.

[Ger-annie-um]

Have you seen tunnels under the wire netting and mole hills in the soil?
Just trying to identify which beasts are responsible.

Unfortunately both

[burnie]

Pretty sure Moles are carnivores, don't think they eat veg, I did have some in a lawn down south and tried those rocket shaped things you put batteries in(stop sniggering at the back),they were useless. Jasper Carrot had a good method...……….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93mgyE2ctwg

[MyWifesBrassicas]

You say you're on a farm?
What does the farm produce?
Does the farm produce something that is stored, then it's sold so the food source disappears, thus mass exodus to your plot or are you plague year round?
Does the farm have cats? they usually get to sit/hang around infested areas.
Not too sure how you'd get on with pest control as it sounds your on the farmers land and probably need their permission.
Does the farmer attempt to control the infestation?

[Logunner]

Baking powder, hot chocolate powder, flour and peanut butter all mixed into a dough. Roll into balls and spread around your beds.

[Ger-annie-um]

Baking powder, hot chocolate powder, flour and peanut butter all mixed into a dough. Roll into balls and spread around your beds.

Really? How big do the balls need to be and what happens?

[Ger-annie-um]

You say you're on a farm?
What does the farm produce?
Does the farm produce something that is stored, then it's sold so the food source disappears, thus mass exodus to your plot or are you plague year round?
Does the farm have cats? they usually get to sit/hang around infested areas.
Not too sure how you'd get on with pest control as it sounds your on the farmers land and probably need their permission.
Does the farmer attempt to control the infestation?

Farm doesn't produce anything at all now. It was dairy but they lost everything in the 2000 foot and mouth epidemic and never recovered. There's several cats but they're not making much of a difference. We've only had a real problem recently. Sweetcorn first in September everything else in the last fortnight.

[Mark_Riga]

I live next to farmland and get lots of rodent visitors. Most likely it is rats.

I have had some success with root crops by assiduously earthing up so the tops of the beetroot etc are under soil. Helps protect from frost also.

Though I once, years back (when you dusted the row with some chemical and were untroubled by carrot root flies), had something eat a row of carrots under ground and leave me with just the tops. Not sure of the life expectancy of rats as they might remember next year if they are still alive.

Moles don't eat vegetables but there is one(?) digging about where I planted autumn onions so not sure how they will go on.