Novag IntelliFox – the intelligent applicator for mouse control

• Novag introduces IntelliFox, an integrated bait dispenser for mouse control within its T-ForcePlus direct sowing machines, targeting conservation agriculture challenges.

• The system combines sowing and rodenticide application in one operation, improving efficiency, safety, and reducing labor.

• IntelliFox features adjustable Coulter pressure, precise bait dosing, and soil closure to protect non-target organisms and ensure robust field performance.

• A standalone version for grassland farms is planned for 2027, expanding application possibilities.

• The product is in prototype stage, undergoing approval, with full market availability expected in summer 2026 and a first public display at Agritechnica 2025.

With IntelliFox, direct sowing specialist Novag is presenting a bait dispenser integrated into sowing technology for the first time at Agritechnica 2025. It has been specially developed for the challenges of Conservation Agriculture. Field mice are a well-known problem in no-till farming systems, as undisturbed burrow systems and permanent mulch cover favour their population growth. Until now, rodenticides could only be applied manually with bait guns – an extremely time-consuming and labour-intensive process. The IntelliFox now offers a practical, safe and, at the same time, labour-saving solution, closing a key gap in the direct drilling system.

Integrated into the seed drill – unique on the market

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The conceptual heart of the development is the full integration of the IntelliFox into the T-ForcePlus direct sowing machines. This allows sowing and field mouse control to be combined in a single operation – the new standard in field mouse control in conservation agriculture. For arable farms, this means considerable time and cost savings as well as ensuring animal and user protection. 

Technical features of the integrated solution

The integrated IntelliFox system features a single row positioned directly behind the seed coulters. A 57 cm serrated cutting disc opens the soil, providing an efficient entry with minimal disturbance while reliably absorbing impacts in stony conditions. Behind it, a torpedo-shaped body forms a stable channel of approximately 5 cm diameter at a depth of 10 to 20 cm. The rodenticide is metered from an additional tank on the seed drill, with application automatically adjusted to the distance travelled and controlled via the machine terminal. A large rear-mounted ridge roller then closes and reconsolidates the soil. As with the seed coulters, the pressure of the IntelliFox coulter is continuously adjustable from 100 to 500 kg via a hydraulic cylinder using the IntelliForce coulter pressure control system. Both the coulter and torpedo depth can be flexibly adjusted to the ground conditions.

The system is designed to ensure safe and even application without leaving bait on the surface – a significant contribution to the protection of non-target organisms.

Like all Novag machines, the IntelliFox is designed for maximum robustness in practical use. The traction requirement is low at 10 to 15 hp per row, which means that the bait applicator can be flexibly retrofitted to existing Novag solutions.

Stand-alone version expands the range of applications

In addition to the integrated version on the direct seed drill, Novag will also offer the IntelliFox as a stand-alone device in a three-point mounting for 2027. This version will have its own storage container, a calibratable dosing unit and an alternative sensor control system. The stand-alone version is aimed, among others, at grassland farms that have to contend with field mouse problems.

Approval process underway

The necessary approval process at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Braunschweig has been initiated. Once this has been successfully completed, nothing will stand in the way of a broad market launch. With the IntelliFox, Novag offers a solution that not only safeguards the direct sowing process, but also opens up new user groups. ‘The IntelliFox is a logical component in our approach to providing practical answers to the challenges of conservation agriculture,’ says Lucas Zickermann, Product Manager at Novag. 

Prototype at Agritechnica 2025 – production start in summer 2026

The IntelliFox is currently in the prototype stage and will be on display for the first time at the Novag stand in Hall 11. A full market availability is scheduled for summer 2026. Other new products for 2026 will also be on display at the exhibition stand, as well as a revised Novag T-ForcePlus 650 and T-ForcePlus 250. (Hall 11, Stand E03).