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Reports of Widespread Mouse Infestations
Grain growers are being urged to check their paddocks for signs of mouse activity as reports of infestations emerge, with last season’s wet, late harvest leaving lots of grain on the ground in many areas.
Growers are already reporting mouse activity in Queensland and New South Wales summer crops.
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“We are urging farmers to get out of their utes and check their paddocks. Even if you don’t think you have a problem, you may in fact have a localised population about to explode,” said CSIRO researcher Steve Henry.
Regular monitoring and early identification of mouse infestations is essential. If left unchecked, a mouse population can quickly escalate and result in crop losses, reduced yields, and increased costs associated with pest control measures. In addition to eating crops, mice can also damage infrastructure such as irrigation systems and farm buildings.
“Mice are everywhere but numbers are patchy, so farmers should focus on paddocks that have sustained pre- or postharvest grain loss. It’s about looking earlier and ordering bait as soon as you can,” Mr Henry said.
GRDC and Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, recommend the application of 50g/ kg zinc phosphide baits (ZnP50) to ensure that each bait grain is a lethal dose. Zinc phosphide is the only rodenticide active ingredient registered for use in broadacre cropping in Australia.
“Our research shows it takes 2mg of ZnP to kill a 15g mouse.
The new ZnP50 product ensures that a mouse only needs to fully consume a single treated grain to receive a lethal dose. This avoids the problem of mice becoming bait averse,” Mr Henry said.
In addition to completing the stewardship training, Mr Henry advise growers to speak with bait manufacturers and resellers early, as bait supplies may become short if demand is high once sowing commences and mice become more apparent in paddocks.
“Growers should be proactive about the assessing the situation with mice in their paddocks and be prepared to bait as they sow the crop to reduce impact,” Mr Henry said.
