Bad news for grape harvest

WINEGROWERS in the Vinalopó region are desperately battling voracious rabbits that are destroying the grape crop.
At night, there are hundreds of rabbits roaming the vineyards eating the vines and many of them litter the roadsides having been hit by passing vehicles.
Farmers estimate that up to 78 per cent of the crop is at risk of destruction if a successful cull is not carried out urgently.
President of the Agricultural Cooperative of San Ramon Agost, Maria Lopez, explained that the problem has become out of control – the rabbits eat the branch and also any new vines planted to replace those destroyed and an extension of the hunting season seems to have had no effect. Agricultural workers are now demanding that hunting restrictions are lifted completely to allow an open season on rabbits until the situation improves.
To make matters worse the extreme heat in recent weeks killed 25 per cent of the grapes with temperatures exceeding 40º charring the grapes on the vine.