"Mole hills and tunnels can be a significant problem to agriculture. They can damage grass cutting equipment, lead to poor quality silage, cause listeriosis in sheep and affect plant growth. Therefore, there is a real need for effective control," said Dafydd Jarrett, NFU Cymru's Policy Officer
There are predominantly three methods of controlling moles, with each one having its advantages and disadvantages:
* Strychnine
* Trapping
* Gassing
The Pesticide Safety Directorate has indicated that the EU Directive 91/414/EC will mean that strychnine hydrochloride will be withdrawn as a plant protection product by the end of 2004. As its current main use falls under the Biocidial Products Directive, the supply can continue until 2006.
Mr Jarrett said: "The NFU is greatly concerned regarding what will happen then? To ensure any hope of retaining its availability, it is vital that its essential use is proven. We are therefore seeking members' help in obtaining unequivocal evidence that alternative method of control such as gassing and trapping moles is not always effective."
Strychnine, which is subject to the Poisonous Act 1972 and the Poisons Rules 1982 is strictly controlled, and the technique can only be applied to agricultural land where specific authorisation has been granted by the Welsh Assembly Government.