3 Tips for Summer Farm Fly Control

While the summer months are when your farm has a chance to thrive the most, unfortunately, they bring with them a hoard of flies. These pests have long been a menace to farmsteads everywhere. Before the fly population gets too out of control, you can use these three must-know techniques for farm fly control during the summer to keep them at bay.

Sheltering Your Animals

An enclosed space for your animals to retreat inside can spare them from the constant bother of fly swarms. You’ve no doubt seen your animals covered in their fair share of flies when you’ve left them outside. If you don’t already have them, you can easily find farm animal shelters for sale on our site. Once you have them, though, the next step is to ensure they stay clean and hygienic.

The organic matter left to decay in them will quickly become a breeding ground for flies. After all, shelters will shield your animals from the bulk of a swarm, but they won’t keep every single fly out. You can reduce the number of flies by ensuring there aren’t any lingering food scraps, animal droppings, or wet hay and bedding that will attract flies.

Encouraging Insect Predators

An effective way to combat the flies is to encourage natural insect predators to hunt within your property. Both birds and bats eat flies. Therefore, if you set up things like birdhouses, bat houses, birdbaths, and other such objects, these predators may eat the insects before they become great nuisances. With the amenities you provide for birds or bats, they’ll be more inclined to linger around your property.

Managing the Manure

Our last must-know technique for farm fly control during the summer is to stay on top of your manure. As we mentioned earlier, decaying organic matter like animal droppings attracts flies. Reducing the amount of manure as much as possible is critical for reducing the number of flies attracted to your farm. But we understand the concept is easier to understand than to execute. Some tips for manure management include routine barn and pen cleaning, spreading the manure into a thinner layer, and dragging your pastures to break up manure. Putting the manure in a large enough pile can also work because it heats up and becomes less hospitable for flies to lay their eggs.