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