Barrel Fly Trap Catches Thousands

Barrel Fly Trap Catches Thousands LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous This simple new barrel fly trap is based on the same concept used in those 1-gal scented fly traps found on many farms We read about it in the Organic Broadcaster a publication of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service ph 715 778-5775; www mosesorganic org The story was written by Jody Padgham It explains how Kevin Jahnke a certified organic seasonal dairy farmer from Lancaster Wis uses barrel fly traps Jahnke starts with a 55-gal barrel He cuts a rectangular hole in top of the barrel and screws on a piece of clear Plexiglas to allow sunlight to penetrate the barrel He cuts holes on all 4 sides of the barrel and inserts lengths of pvc pipe with 90-degree elbows facing the bottom of the barrel Then he fills the bottom of the barrel with 8 to 10 in of water adding a few drops of dish soap as a surfactant He hangs something smelly such as rotting meat scraps inside the barrel The flies smell the bait and find their way into the barrel through the pvc tubes Once inside they’re attracted to the light coming from the window at the top where they congregate and die as they can’t figure out how to get out The carcasses fall to the bottom and decompose which adds to the smell Jahnke uses a small aquarium net to dip out the dead flies Jahnke has 3 barrels on his farm He says once the trap is set up there’s nothing to do but scoop out the flies He’s on a rotational grazing system and keeps the barrel fly traps where cattle congregate next to his water tanks He says darker colored barrels work best A video showing how Jahnke uses the barrel fly traps can be found on www farmshow com

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