WA growers urged to monitor amid reports of mouse damage to crops

Growers across the WA grain belt are encouraged to actively and frequently monitor for mouse activity, with the recent detection of significant mouse damage to crops in Merredin and surrounds.

At a 27 June field walk arranged by Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group (MADFIG) and Nutrien Ag Solutions Merredin, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) representatives spoke with growers who reported holes in crops the size of utes, due to mouse damage.

Some growers in this region had not actively monitored their crops before or during seeding and were unaware of the level of risk from mouse activity.

Increased mouse activity in WA was anticipated this year due to the volume of grain left behind in paddocks after a record breaking 2021/22 harvest.

With the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website predicting warmer, drier conditions for WA in July, it could be a perfect storm for further extensive mouse damage in the region, as milder weather contributes to more active mouse breeding.

Steve Henry, leading mouse expert and researcher officer at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, said that mouse numbers can build rapidly under the right conditions, leading to crop damage throughout the growing season.

“Mice can do damage at all phases of the crop, so if they’re taking whole plants out when the crop’s being sown, there is a related loss of yield when the crop is harvested. The key message now is to be vigilant in the late winter/early spring and be prepared to bait if you see signs of mouse activity,” Mr Henry said.

Early detection and integrated management across the farm is crucial for reducing the risk of mouse impacts. Once mouse numbers are very high, it is very difficult to reduce damage and control strategies can be costly.

Read the full article on monitoring mouse activity on the GRDC website >

Please feel free to reach out to Georgia Megirian, GRDC Crop Protection Manager - West for any queries or concerns on 03 9230 4600 or at georgia.megirian@grdc.com.au