Help to manage mouse activity

Authorities are urging grain growers to continue to be vigilant in monitoring and managing mice as the season heads closer to spring.

Agriculture Victoria has warned the threat of mice damage to crops remained strong and has organised a series of forums for Wimmera and southern Mallee growers early next month.

Agriculture Victoria land management extension officer Felicity Pritchard said reports had revealed large numbers of mice across parts of the Wimmera and southern Mallee during autumn.

She said the forums were designed to help growers learn how to monitor and manage mouse populations in established crops.

“Growers and advisers in the Wimmera and southern Mallee are reporting continued mouse activity through winter. These forums will help growers be on the front foot,” she said.

“They will help growers prepare for the possibility of moderate to high mouse activity in spring.”

Keynote speaker at the forums will be Professor Linton Staples from Animal Control Technologies, who will talk about a potential increase in breeding activity when the weather warms and crops begin to mature.

Ms Pritchard said moderate mouse numbers could still cause significant damage to crops in spring, depending on the growth stage of the crop.

“Mice can reduce crop yields as they chew growing stems and nodes,” she said.

“They can drop seed heads by chewing through the top node at flowering and also damage maturing heads and pods.

“Crop damage in spring can be insidious and might not be noticed without monitoring.

“The key to preventing crop damage is recognising and treating infestations early.”

Ms Pritchard encouraged farmers to record their observations on mouse populations on a Mousealert app so the CSIRO could track trends in mouse populations. It is available online at www. feralscan.org.au/mousealert.

Forums will be at Hopetoun on August 7, Taylors Lake near Horsham on August 8 and Kaniva and Kalkee on August 9. More information on the mouse forums is available from Heather Drendel on 5083 2205 or Felicity Pritchard on 0429 884 207.