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Unfortunately, there is now need to check every establishing crop for signs of slug activity or damage.
Slugs will nearly always shred cereal leaves along their length, while they will fully eat rape leaves. They might be ignored on well-established rape crops at this point but they could do very serious damage to relatively recently planted catch crops.
Leaves that are cut across are generally grazed by something bigger than a slug.
Treatment may be necessary using any of the better pellet formulations such as Axcela, Metarex, Destroyer, Traxx, etc.
Rates differ for each product.
Perhaps 60% rate is sufficient if there is low activity but where damage is serious full rates become essential.
The inability to roll or consolidate post planting adds to the risk of slug damage.
As air and soil temperatures drop, all pests can be more problematic. Crop growth is slower and alternative feeds can be less plentiful.
Crow and rabbit damage is likely to increase from here
This can mean more hassle and cost during establishment.
Crops will take longer to establish and crows get bolder as they get hungrier.
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