Rats in the NFT: Rodents, Risks and Hydroponic Safety

Dr. Russell Sharp of Utrema discusses a striking Facebook post—an AI image of rat droppings on an NFT lettuce system—and asks whether rodents are a real threat in hydroponics.

The episode covers the main risks rodents pose: disease transmission (salmonella, leptospirosis, hantavirus), contamination of recirculating fertigation solutions, crop damage, and quality/safety losses.

Practical control advice is offered using an integrated pest management approach: seal entry points, install fine mesh on vents, reduce outdoor hiding spots, use traps (preferred over poisons), monitor and keep pest logs, and consider professional tamper-resistant services for larger operations.

https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Marisa Thompson — Extension Urban Horticulture Specialist, New Mexico State University, USA

Abiya (Abi) Saeed — Extension Horticulture Specialist, Montana State University Extension, USA

Svoboda Vladimirova Pennisi — Extension Horticulture Specialist, Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, USA

Michael Parker — Extension Horticulture Specialist (Tree Fruits & Pecans), Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, USA

Kim Todd — Professor & Extension Horticulture Specialist, Agronomy & Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA

Karen Panter — Emeritus Extension Horticulture Specialist, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Wyoming, USA

Todd Higgins — Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, USA

Linda Chalker-Scott — Extension Horticulturist, Washington State University, USA

Jeff Gillman — Director, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA

Joe Masabni — Extension Vegetable Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, USA

Mengmeng Gu — Professor & Extension Horticulturist, Texas A&M University, USA

Ajay Nair — Associate Professor & Extension Vegetable Specialist, Iowa State University, USA

Chris Currey — Associate Professor of Horticulture, Iowa State University, USA

Gary Bachman — Extension Horticulture Specialist, Mississippi State University Extension, USA

David Trinklein — Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri, USA

Pam Bennett — Horticulture Educator, Ohio State University Extension, USA

Bert Cregg — Professor of Horticulture & Forestry, Michigan State University, USA

Holly Scoggins — Associate Professor of Horticulture (emerita), Virginia Tech, USA

Youbin Zheng — Professor, School of Environmental Sciences (controlled environment horticulture), University of Guelph, Canada

Gopinadhan Paliyath — Professor, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Canada

John A. Cline — Professor, Department of Plant Agriculture (tree fruit horticulture), University of Guelph, Canada

Mary Jane Clark — Professor of Horticulture, Niagara College, Canada

David Percival — Professor & Director, Wild Blueberry Research Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Canada

Rajasekaran (Raj) Lada — Professor, Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Canada

Samuel Asiedu — Professor, Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Canada

Kate Congreves — Associate Professor, Environmental Agronomy & Horticulture, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Bob Bors — Assistant Professor & Head of Fruit Program, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Jackie Bantle — Greenhouse and Horticulture Facility Manager, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Clarence Swanton — Professor Emeritus, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Canada

Jason L. McCallum — Research Scientist (Plant / Horticultural Science), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada

Alistair Griffiths — Director of Science & Collections, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), UK

Tijana Blanusa — Horticultural Scientist, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading & RHS, UK

Jim Monaghan — Professor of Applied Horticulture / Crop Production, Harper Adams University, UK

Andrew Beacham — Senior Lecturer in Horticultural Science, Harper Adams University, UK

Lauren Chappell — Vegetable Crop Scientist / Plant Pathologist, Warwick Crop Centre, University of Warwick, UK

Ross Cameron — Professor of Horticulture and Landscape Plant Science, University of Sheffield, UK

Meirion Roberts — Lecturer involved in Horticultural Science modules, Aberystwyth University, UK

Rachel Baxter — Lecturer / Researcher in Crop & Horticultural Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, UK

Paul Hadley — Professor of Horticultural Crop Science, University of Reading, UK

David Evans — Head of Grounds and Gardens (horticultural science background), University of Exeter, UK

John Mulhern — College Principal, Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Ireland

James Brady — Lecturer, Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Ireland

Hui Xing — Lecturer, Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Ireland

Shane Brett — Lecturer, Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Ireland

Eoghan Buckley — College Lecturer – Horticulture, Teagasc Kildalton College, Ireland

Grainne McMahon — Assistant Principal – Horticulture, Teagasc Kildalton College, Ireland

Teri Acheson — College Lecturer – Horticulture, Teagasc (Ireland)

Darren White — Technician, Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Ireland

Deirdre Walsh — Assistant Principal, Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, Ireland