Grain Producers SA (GPSA) is continuing calls to access stronger mouse bait as a new grower survey revealed one in every two grain producers who responded are seeing mouse activity on farm.
Results from a GPSA survey of almost 400 grain producers found half were experiencing regular mouse sightings, with damage already occurring during seeding operations across key South Australian grain regions.
The survey found mouse activity was most prevalent across Yorke Peninsula, the Mid North and Adelaide Plains regions, with grain producers reporting activity ranging from occasional sightings through to widespread damage.
GPSA chief executive officer Brad Perry said the results confirmed mice were already emerging as a significant concern for grain producers during crop establishment.
“These survey results demonstrate grain producers are already seeing both mouse activity and damage during seeding across several South Australian grain growing regions,” he said.
“Many grain producers noted in the survey that they have spotted active holes in paddocks and obvious damage from the pest.
“GPSA has been working with the Department for Primary Industries and Regions SA to provide any information required to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to support South Australian grain producers accessing ZP50.”
Mr Perry said the latest survey results reinforced GPSA’s ongoing advocacy for access to double strength mouse bait, Zinc Phosphide (ZP50), to help get on top of rising numbers.
“GPSA has previously advocated strongly for grain producers to have access to more effective mouse baiting options when mouse activity begins to grow,” he said.
“Early intervention is critical because once populations explode it becomes significantly harder and more expensive to control.
“Mice can cause serious economic damage through digging up seed, attacking emerging crops and damaging machinery and infrastructure and stored grain.”
The previous emergency permit arrangements for ZP50 bait expired at the end of 2023 and have not since been renewed.
In 2024, GPSA surveyed nearly 150 grain producers to ascertain the effectiveness of double strength bait compared to standard strength mouse bait.
The survey results showed that South Australian grain producers that used the double strength mouse bait under permit rated it as 90 per cent effective, compared to the single dose at 50 per cent effective in battling mouse populations.
