Increased on-farm rodent activity is causing major damage. Rats are destroying orchards and vineyards this year in California.
Farmers are reporting yield losses, and even infrastructure damage, to things like irrigation lines and electrical wiring. The costly destruction has also led to soaring costs in pest control. One UC Davis pest expert says the rodent reports are widespread, from San Joaquin Valley nut orchards to the citrus orchards along the central coast.
The California Farm Bureau is currently working with growers to help by hosting webinars and conducting rodent damage surveys. While that data is yet to be analyzed, a report from 2005 estimated that rats cause $19 billion dollars in damage each year.
