Rodent Control for Seed Storage Areas

BY Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team

It is hard to believe, but it’s time to start shipping seed for the 2025 growing season. As you receive your seed into your storage facilities, rodent control will be one of the more important tasks to ensure safe seed storage.

Why are rodents such a problem? They are quick to reproduce, small enough to fit anywhere, and able to survive on a limited amount of nourishment.

A typical, female mouse can deliver six young, or pups, per litter after a gestation period of only 19 days. Mice then reach sexual maturity after only 6-8 weeks of age, meaning they will quickly look to produce another litter of pups. Wild mice live, on average, 6-12 months, but can live as much as 1-2 years when living indoors.

Mice use their small size to maximize the number of places they can live. You may not know, but mice are capable of squeezing through a hole as small as a 1/4-inch wide. They can scamper across pipes, wire, and ropes with ease. In addition, these critters can jump 12 inches and safely endure an 8-foot fall.

Once inside they just need a little to survive. An adult mouse only needs about 1/10^th ounce of food per day and 1/20th of an ounce of water to live. Mice are omnivores but prefer to eat grains, fruits and seeds. Research has also shown that they prefer foods that are high in carbohydrates, so protect your seeds!

Preventing a rodent problem starts by performing a thorough inspection of your facilities.

Seal all opening to less than one-quarter inch wide, including floor drains, building sills, plumbing entries, and mortar and concrete cracks.
A strip of heavy gravel around the storage area would also be useful in excluding rodents.
Keep doors shut when possible.
Use traps, glue boards or live traps on either side of entrance ways and do the same along interior walls.
Good sanitation is also crucial in keeping a mouse population from getting established.

Preventing a rodent problem makes economic sense. Do not lose good seed because of a contamination event.