Farm Repels 100% of Geese with Geese Deterrent Laser

Thousands upon thousands of geese were terrorizing the fields of NIVU at Goeree-Overflakkee. The Installation of two Agrilaser Autonomic geese deterrent laser means an end to the plague.

The Autonomic Geese Deterrent Laser at farmer NIVU

Situation before
Farmer NIVU in Achthuizen and Oude-Tonge owns over 400 hectares of agricultural land adjacent to water. Therefore, thousands of geese are a daily threat to both the crops and the land. Installing flags and gas cannons and goose hunting prove to be time-consuming, ineffective and a nuisance. Jack van Vugt. “Annually, these actions cost us between 10 thousand and 20 thousand Euros. The other damages, such as the trampled ground, delayed harvests and a lack of green fertilizer, double that amount to 20,000 – 40,000 Euro.”

Results after use
Van Vugt had already given up hope, but was amazed to really see no more geese after installing the Agrilaser Autonomic. “Both on land of wheat and land with potatoes, it works very well. This makes us very happy.” He currently experiences less damage and, on top of that, gets a higher profit. Furthermore, the eternal struggle between man and goose has ended, saving the farmer a lot of annoyance.

Company: Farmer NIVU
Location: Achthuizen and Oude-Tonge, Netherlands
Product: Agrilaser Autonomic
Problem: Nuisance from geese
In use since: August 2015

Results
• 100% less geese
• Tens of thousands of Euros reduction in damages
• Quick and long-term dispersal effect
• No more headaches about birds
• No more obstructing flags and objects on the fields
• Higher and earlier yield

Interview with Jack van Vugt, farmer NIVU

Thousands upon thousands of geese were terrorizing the fields of NIVU at Goeree-Overflakkee. The Installation of two Agrilaser Autonomic geese deterrent lasers means an end to the plague. “I am super-enthusiastic.”

Agricultural company NIVU owns over 400 hectares of fields in Achthuizen & Oude-Tonge at Goeree-Overflakkee. The partnership is three men strong, one of them being Jack van Vugt, and grows potatoes, sugar beets, wheat and onions amongst others. Their problem: the land are located adjacent to water, which means that countless geese are eating the crops and trampling the ground.

“The annual damage is valued to be between 10 thousand and 20 thousand Euros. The other damages, such as the trampled ground, delayed harvests and the lack of green fertilizer, double those costs. And that doesn’t include all the hours lost while deterring birds and registering the damage.” Before, Van Vugt and his colleagues were fighting the endless onslaught of geese with, amongst others, flags, sound cannons and hunting. They also tried bird deterrent pistols and cheap laser pens, but everything turned out to be only limited or short-lived. “They simply returned after five minutes.”

That’s why Van Vugt contacted Bird Control Group for their automated laser cannons. “We started a trial on August 1st. This turned out to be such a success, that we purchased another one in November 2015.”

During the first experiment, the Autonomic had to protect a land of wheat, a crop that attracts thousands of geese. That problem now belongs to the past, because all geese are and stay away. “It also works very well on land with potatoes. the results are very satisfying.”

In terms of costs and benefits, Van Vugt now suffers several tens of thousands of Euros less in damages. Furthermore, that endless annoyance is gone for good. “Then I had planted my land, everything there was awfully neat, and then came the geese again.” He also noted that the birds are not getting used to the laser and that its effect is quicker compared to shooting or noise. “And that’s why I’m so enthusiastic.”

All figures at a glance

Bird species
• Barnacle goose
• Gray Goose

Surface with bird damage
130 ha of wheat

Presence of geese
In the past NIVU only had geese on their fields during the winter. Since 2015 the geese are there throughout the year.

Feeding damage to crops
The damage costs between 10,000 and 20,000 Euro each year.

Other damage
Between 10,000 and 20,000 Euro each year, consisting of:
• Trampled ground
• Delay of harvest
• Lack of green manure

Additional cost
• Labor: permit applications for shooting
• Labor: disperse birds
• Labor: registration for damages and permits

Investment 2x Agrilaser Autonomic
NIVU purchased two Agrilaser Autonomic lasers including solar panel accessories, the total investment is 11,992 Euro.

Configuration of the Autonomic geese deterrent laser 
The two Agrilaser Autonomic lasers are both placed on the wheat field, they are irradiating an area of 60 hectare. Keeping a bigger area free of birds was not possible because of a road that crosses this specific area.

The Agrilaser Autonomic is irradiating the area every day from 08:00 until 16:30.

Result
• The presence of geese in the area is reduced by 100%
• Annual savings between 20,000 and 40,000 Euro
• The total investment of 11,992 Euro will be paid back within one year