Welfare of Animals in Agricultural Pest Management

Agricultural pest management affects billions of non-target animals annually through pesticide use, habitat simplification, and lethal control of species considered economically harmful.

Key Facts

Neonicotinoid pesticides have been detected in over 75% of global honey samples
Rodenticide use in agriculture kills non-target predators including barn owls and raptors at significant rates
Vertebrate pest control on farms includes killing corvids, foxes, and mustelids that cause livestock losses
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches reduce pesticide use by 50-80% while maintaining crop yields
Buffer strips around fields significantly reduce pesticide exposure of non-target field-edge species

Welfare Considerations

Agricultural pest management creates welfare harm at multiple scales: pesticide exposure causes sub-lethal behavioral effects in beneficial insects and non-target vertebrates; lethal control of corvids and foxes kills individually through shooting or trapping; and habitat simplification of field environments eliminates the food and shelter resources of farmland wildlife. IPM approaches that use biological control, targeted pesticide application, and habitat management reduce non-target welfare harm while maintaining agricultural function.

What You Can Do

Support farmers using IPM practices through certified sustainable agricultural products
Advocate for restrictions on broad-spectrum neonicotinoid pesticides in agricultural settings
Donate to Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group programs integrating biodiversity into farm management
Engage with local farmers about buffer strip and hedgerow programs protecting farmland wildlife