Mouse Threat to Crops

Be vigilant about mice in crops

Mice continue to threaten Australia’s crops.

This year, higher than normal numbers of mice have been reported in may areas of South Australia, Victoria, NSW Riverina and Western Australia.

A late start to the season in the eastern states has meant many growers have either chosen not to sow their crops, or in some cases taken the ‘dry sow’ option.

The combination of dry sowing and higher than normal mice numbers means there is a considerable risk of crop damage as mice feed on the freshly sown seed. In many areas of South Australia and the Victorian Mallee, leading farmers who have dry sown have also monitored their crops and treated the areas with MOUSEOFF^® Zinc Phosphide bait if they have observed damage from mice.

In the Esperance area of Western Australia extremely high numbers of mice survived the summer, and posed an extreme risk to newly sown crops. With a great start to the season many growers observed damage to volunteer canola and wheat that emerged after the first rains.

This prompted many to treat their stubbles to remove the mice prior to sowing, or attached spreaders to their airseeders to spread MOUSEOFF^® ZP as they sowed their crops.

With heavy follow-up rains in the west, waterlogging and minor flooding may knock numbers back, however vigilance into the
spring is required to avoid crop damage during the milky dough and podding stages. Widespread rains in the eastern states in June made for a late but good break to the season.

With gentle rains in many places, the potential for mice activity is there well into the spring.

Crops should be closely monitored for signs of activity throughout the winter period and treated if necessary before breeding starts again in the spring.

For information on how to monitor mice in crops, ACTA and the GRDC have prepared a range of technical materials including the MOUSEOFF^® ZP Technical Booklet, a training DVD and other resources that can be readily accessed on the new ACTA website: www.animalcontrol.com.au.

With the numbers of mice present in many areas, there is a significant chance of ongoing problems through the winter and into the spring.

For more information about MOUSEOFF® Zinc Phosphide Bait please contact ACTA on: (03) 9308 9688 or enquiries@animalcontrol.com.au

Animal Control Technologies

Mice Threat to Crops

Be vigilant about mice in crops