By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

WASHINGTON, N.J. — As if this year’s wet spring and dry summer weren’t enough, the effort to keep deer and other hungry pests out of embattled fields continues to vex many growers.

One product that is newer and has received recognition is Messina Wildlife’s Plotsaver system, which employs a Deer Stopper barrier ribbon. The plastic ribbon is placed 30 inches off the ground, at muzzle height, around the perimeter of the plot and treated with the liquid repellent every 30 days.
“Plotsaver is the only perimeter animal repellent proven to keep deer out of entire blocks of land … You can protect fields of any size or shape for about 4 cents a linear foot,” said James Messina, vice president of the company.
Plotsaver recently was awarded the seal of approval by the National Home Gardening Club. Some of the club’s 525,000 members conduct their own trials of gardening products. Nine out of 10 members approved Plotsaver, as well as Animal Stopper, another Messina product that combats rabbits, groundhogs and deer.

Quality Deer Management Assoc. (QDMA) members also use Plotsaver products with satisfactory results, said Lindsay Thomas, director of communications for QDMA. Messina Wildlife is a corporate sponsor of QDMA, and Thomas said that indicates a level of recognition of the products’ effectiveness.

“Plotsaver definitely works in growing food plots where deer density is not too high,” Thomas said.

He specifically said the product worked well on soybeans and sunflowers, which are most vulnerable to deer in his area, if they are protected those first few weeks until established.

“There are variables that affect its effectiveness. In a drought, in which food sources are slim, hungry deer will find a way in. In a balanced (ecology), Plotsaver will repel deer and save early crops,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the QDMA’s position is that repellents will not work alone if the problem is deer over-population. The recommended solution in that case is to organize a deer hunt, in which “the right number of females” are harvested, Thomas said.

A wildlife biologist can help farmers determine how many deer are in the area and how many females need to be eliminated, Thomas said.

“Plotsaver is a more cost-effective solution than a permanent high fence, so more people can use that option,” Thomas said.

In his own trials, Thomas has found that Messina products last 30 days as claimed, while a competitor, Milorganite, an organic fertilizer, had to be applied every two weeks.

Other Messina products

Based out of Washington, N.J., Messina Wildlife produces a line of products that treat a wide range of animal pests, such as cats, dogs, skunks, rabbits, groundhogs, gophers, raccoons and others.

“Ours are the first animal repellents that don’t stink. They repel pests and not the customers who use them. We use a different kind of science that uses plant extracts to repel the animals instead of foul-smelling combinations,” Messina said.

Messina also claims its products do not wash off in the rain as other repellents do.

Messina said customers can find his product line at Menards and Orschlen Farm Supply, as well as independent garden centers and hardware stores or online at www.MessinaWildlife.com

“Organic growers know about us, but other farmers may not realize we are around,” said Christine Beatty, public relations for Messina.

The company has been in business since 1988 and is working for name recognition. Beatty said the products were developed by Jim Messina, Sr., who is a certified landscape architect. He wanted a product that would protect his landscaping projects.

With a degree in marketing, his son, James, launched the products for commercial use.

“We’re growing more and more every year. The key is to get them to ask for our products by name. Luckily that happens more frequently every year,” James Messina said.

Messina products were featured in a “Today” show spot, and a TV commercial is being developed for this year.