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THURSDAY 20 May 2021
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NEWS & FEATURES SPECIAL
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Mice Plague in Rural NSW
CSIRO Arms Local Farmers to “Know Their Enemy” at Molong Workshop
By Emily Gobourg Led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has invested in new research, enabling farmers to access double-strength increases of zinc phosphide (ZnP) mouse baits; a crucial necessity to overpower the above-average mouse numbers spreading across Eastern Australia. For the benefit of agriculture in Australia, the evidencebased research showed the ZnP-coated wheat bait – an in-crop rodenticide for the management of broad-scale mice damage – would help grain growers fight the relentless vermin during the State’s relentless mouse plague. The new emergency permit, approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority (APVMA), will allow farmers to increase the chances of mice consuming a lethal dose in a single feed; doubling the ordinary dosage of 25 mg/kilogram of ZnP active concentrate per wheat grain, to 50 mg/kg ZnP per grain. Mouse expert Steve Henry, Senior Researcher at CSIRO, explained how rapidly the mice had developed an aversion to the usual single-dose bait, and said it was now critical that every grain carry a lethal dose upon consumption. “If the bait is under strength – then they’ve gone and eaten other things, scurried around, and what not – by that time, they’ve identified the belly ache with that first bait - and they won’t eat the second,” Henry explained. “One of my colleagues calls it ‘the dodgy curry effect’ – if you go out, you have some food, and then you come home and feel sick – you’re not going back to that restaurant again for quite some time.” In response to the increasing prevalence of mice in many key grain-growing regions of Australia, The GRDC has also said they recognise the enormity of the mouse
Steve Henry, Senior Researcher at CSIRO at last Friday's workshop (Emily Gobourg) problem, and acknowledge “the severe impact it has on growers’ businesses, their families, their communities and the broader industry. - and will inject a further $4.1 million into mouse control research, development and extension (RD&E) initiatives.” A recent announcement from the NSW Government will also see the rollout of a $50 million support package for farmers, small businesses, and households, with the goal of helping regional communities increase combat against the vermin plague. As part of the recent Government initiative, a series of mouse control workshops have Mr Henry travelling to problematic mouse areas across the State, where his workshops will provide education and mouse-combative knowledge to farmers; outlining practical strategies to reduce mice numbers leading up to sowing, how to optimise the protection of their crops during sowing, and, how to control incrop mouse numbers as ongoing.
Some of the attendees at last Friday's workshop (Emily Gobourg)
Presented by Central Tablelands Landcare, and Little River Landcare, local farmers attended one of the mice control workshops in Molong, in a desperate bid to collect additional rodent mitigation tips from the mouse expert himself. Preceded by years of drought, followed by droughtbreaking rainfall, has given mice the perfect rural environment to take advantage of increase and extension, in terms of seasonal breeding, litter numbers, food and shelter resources; and while many thought the wet conditions may have wiped a lot of vermin out, Henry explained how the excellent survivors simply took to higher ground, and reaped the benefits thereafter. “Monumental rain just prior to Easter didn’t take them out… they’re very good survivors,” Henry explained. “There’s been a high level of offspring survival because of the wet climatic conditions, and while they’re feeding, they’re gestating – so there’s no real break in production.” “When conditions are favourable, the rate of increase is dramatic; and in six to nine weeks, you’ve got a monumental problem.” Henry said that after the beautiful, moist and mild summer, the concern is that the mice will now continue breeding through autumn, and into the winter season. (Continued Page 4)