Crows and Rabbits Force Serbian Farmers to Re-sow Crops

The agricultural heartland of Serbia is facing an unprecedented challenge as our vital crops, particularly sunflowers and corn, are being decimated by an overpopulation of crows and rabbits. Farmers like Goran Filipović and Zoran Butina are recounting harrowing experiences of having to re-sow entire fields, a costly and frustrating endeavor that jeopardizes their livelihoods. The crows, it seems, have developed a particular taste for sunflower seeds, even those treated with protective agents, and current pesticide options are proving ineffective.

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Crows unerringly pull out the seeds one by one, they don't dig where there is none. We avoid sowing sunflowers early, rather in the third decade of April, when other areas also turn green and that distracts rabbits and crows, but in vain. Crows do not pull out soybean seeds from the ground, but sunflowers are particularly sweet to them.

Historically, stronger, albeit more toxic, pesticides like 'furadan' (banned in 2014) kept these pests at bay. Now, with stricter regulations and less effective alternatives, farmers are left vulnerable. The Serbian government has protected crows due to past population declines, but this conservation measure has inadvertently led to a boom in their numbers, creating a new ecological imbalance that directly impacts our agricultural output.

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The re-sowing will additionally cost me about 500 euros.

This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a significant economic burden. For farmers like Butina, re-sowing costs can run into thousands of euros, not to mention the reduced yields that inevitably follow a second planting. The situation is so dire that some fields are left in a state of uncertainty, with farmers unsure if their crops will survive. This crisis highlights a critical need for sustainable pest management solutions that protect both our agriculture and our environment, a balance that seems increasingly difficult to strike.

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Re-sowing corn on four hectares will cost me about 70,000-80,000 dinars, but if the crows continue to destroy, there will be more fields that will have to be sown again.