Organic Smallholders and Farmers, Livestock Keepers & Vegetable Growers
My name is Juliet Caird and I am a farmer’s daughter and have been a veterinary surgeon for 18 years. As a result of organophosphate poisoning, I have now had to give up veterinary practice to avoid further exposure to pesticides and limit the progression of the disease. I now keep my own animals and grow vegetables organically on my smallholding.
I live in an area of high midge density in the west of Scotland. Last year, my animals and I were tormented by the midges until, out of desparation, I purchased a MidgeMaster. I was delighted to find that it was extremely effective at reducing the midge numbers from an early stage. It has greatly improved the quality of life for myself and the animals (llamas, sheep and ponies). The animals are less distressed and I can tend my vegetable plot and garden in the evenings which was previously unbearable because of the midges. During bad midge weather, there are generally just a few midges around the animals, but not nearly enough to cause distress as before, and there is a big swarm around the machine, queuing up to be vacuumed in. An added benefit is that we can invite friends to sit outside with us and enjoy organic barbecues in the evenings.
Having seen the great improvement in my animals’ contentment, I was keen to tell other veterinary surgeons and owners of animals about the machine and have now become an agent for the company.
Benefits of the MidgeMaster to Organic Smallholders
- environmentally friendly & safe - no pesticides or harmful chemicals
- does not target beneficial insects e.g. bees, butterflies, ladybirds
- greatly improved animal welfare
- weatherproof & robust
- value for money – economical to run and highly effective
- safe to operate in the presence of animals
- greatly improved human outdoor working conditions & greatly increased tolerable working hours in high midge density areas
- eliminates the need for midge headnets, barrier creams and generally fairly ineffective and potentially toxic natural repellents e.g. Citronella
- commercial scale models available – powerful and have no electric cable, easy to reposition
- easy operation, low maintenance & reliable
The MidgeMaster constantly reduces the midge population throughout the midge season, and each successive season begins with a lower initial hatch of midges, resulting in a progressive improvement.
The MidgeMaster not only catches midges, but also other biting insects such as blackflies, horseflies (clegs), sandflies and mosquitoes.
Advice on the use of the MidgeMaster on Smallholdings
As the machine will probably have to compete with several ruminants, each emitting their own supply of octenol, we advise the use of a Pro model or a Pro Plus model.
My machine is a Pro model and is certainly adequate for my premises with several midge hatching areas (wet areas) and ten large herbivores. If there are many separate large midge hatching areas surrounding your premises or animals are kept overnight in widely separate areas, it may be worth considering the purchase of two Liberty Plus models, which would cost only a little more than a Pro Plus model and be likely to be more effective under these conditions. Like the Pro series, the Liberty Plus model does not have an electricity cable so can be placed anywhere.
Maximum benefit is obtained by careful siting of the MidgeMaster, preferably between the main source of midges and the animals. Also remember that the attractant travels downwind and that the midges generally fly upwind for a meal. If the machine does not appear to be very effective initially, try repositioning it and you will probably notice a big improvement.
Keep the MidgeMaster separate from livestock to prevent them from knocking it over. We recommend the use of electric fencing, which is convenient and allows for repositioning of the MidgeMaster. Keep the machine at least 8 feet away from the fence to prevent livestock from sniffing the machine and collecting some of the swarm of midges attracted to the MidgeMaster. Remember not to transport midges to your animals from the machine when you have checked it. It is best to check it during low midge density hours.
If the area protected by the machine (max. 1.5 acres for Pro Plus machine, but depends on land features) is smaller than the area required for grazing, then let the livestock graze a larger area during the daytime and gather them into the smaller, midge-protected area in the evening, to stay there overnight. This system works very well on my holding where the animals are gathered into 2 paddocks and a yard.
Follow the manufacturer’s simple instructions. I have found that it is particularly important to renew the octenol at 21 day intervals. If it is left much longer than this, the livestock start to attract the midges with their personal octenol. We advise you to mark the date of octenol changes and the next due date on your calendar.
Nets should be emptied/changed when half full. Caught midges can be fed to fish or used as fertilizer.
Use of the MidgeMaster at Agricultural Shows.
The reduction in midge numbers reduces the distraction of animals and allows them to perform to their maximum ability. The use of MidgeMasters at shows would also improve the environment for spectators.
Commercial advantages of owning a MidgeMaster
Any premises purchasing a MidgeMaster from this company will be registered on the MidgeBlaster website, which can be viewed by potential customers. Links can be set up between websites if requested.
A satisfied MidgeMaster customer reports:-
‘New Midge Trap: A highly effective mosquito trap, based on the ‘counterflow’ principle, was developed by USDA-ARS scientists and private sector cooperators, and has been marketed as the MidgeMaster. Powered by propane gas, this trap is a quiet and effective trap for use by homeowners and livestock producers.’
Source: United States Department of Agriculture Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology.
Miss P. Jane Dawson, Croft Kennels, Croitachonie, Cairndow, Argyll, PA26 8BG
Further information from MidgeBlaster
You are welcome to contact us to discuss the MidgeMaster further, or to enquire about the possibility of inspecting a machine in operation in your area click here
Ordering and delivery – click here
