Mice plague rebates backdated
Households and small businesses impacted by high numbers of mice across regional NSW will be able to claim rebates for purchasing mouse bait from 1 February 2021, with the NSW Government today announcing the rebate program will be backdated.
Urgent action required as mouse plague spreads
NSW Farmers estimates the mouse plague will chew more than a billion dollars off the farmgate value of the state’s winter crop as the impact of this mouse invasion extends across NSW ... “After more than 8 months of battling growing mouse numbers farmers are still waiting for State Government assistance to hit the ground and offer some practical support to our farming community,” NSW Farmers Vice President Xavier Martin.
Counsellors urge farmers to speak up about ongoing mouse plague
Farmers are being urged to touch base with a Rural Aid counsellor for a mental wellbeing check-in, as mouse plagues continue to ravage rural communities. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters has urged primary producers to get in touch with Rural Aid. “Rural Aid can help farmers with a range of measures including financial, fodder and mental wellbeing assistance,” Mr Warlters said.
Farm and household help for mice management welcomed
The National Farmers’ Federation is relieved that help is on its way to assist NSW farmers and communities currently under siege from an unrelenting mouse plague. A $50 million package announced by the NSW Government today will deliver free-of-charge grain treatment at sites across the state and rebates for the cost of baits: $500 for households and $1000 for small businesses, delivered through Service NSW.
Research prompts increase to recommended mouse bait rates
A new research investment by GRDC, led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has enabled evidence-based increases to zinc phosphide (ZnP) mouse baits that will help grain growers battling above-average mouse numbers in eastern Australia. ZnP-coated wheat bait is the only registered in-crop rodenticide for the management of mice damage in broad-scale agriculture in Australia. The new Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority emergency use permit increases the concentration of zinc phosphide active per wheat grain from 25 mg/kilogram to 50 mg/kg.
Mouse plague hits Parliament House
“The smell is horrific. You can pick up all the mice you see but there is always more. I did 38 loads of washing in three days. My house is pretty much packed up in boxes,” Lisa Minogue, Farmer, Barmedman.
Expansion of popular mice workshops for farmers and new biological control research
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has today announced a new series of mice management workshops for farmers contending with mice plague activity across parts of the State. Mr Marshall said the series of 16 extra workshops followed nine earlier events which were fully subscribed and very well received by producers, looking to strengthen their on-farm mice management programs.
