How Do Rats Affect Crops?
WouterRodent activity can affect crops in a number of ways, including affecting farmers’ yields and causing crop diseases. It can also affect farmers’ ability to meet consumer demands, causing a chain reaction that hurts producers and consumers alike. Agriculture plays a key role in the global economy. California alone produces approximately $39 billion of annual crops and is a leading supplier of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Rats and mice cause significant damage to agricultural properties. However, not all rodents attack the same types of crops. For example, rats and mice prefer crops with seeds and are less likely to feed on plants that are not yet fully grown. Voles and moles, on the other hand, tend to focus on roots and bulbs. In addition to eating crops, moles can also cause significant damage through tunneling.
The prevention of rodent infestations starts with good farm hygiene. This means creating a GAP plan for your farming operation. Then, you can use effective pesticides to exterminate existing populations and discourage other rodents from setting up shop on your farm. This approach will help you reduce the risk of a rodent infestation, which will ultimately benefit your crops. And remember that if you’re already dealing with an infestation, the earlier you start treatment, the better.
Rats are a major pest, carrying a number of dangerous diseases and chewing on electrical wires. But a more serious concern is their effect on the environment. Their presence in a garden can even cause damage to electrical cables. On the other hand, these critters are important decomposers. These organisms eat dead plant trunks and decaying flesh.
