THE WEEKLY TIMES | Mouse pressure hits northern NSW and Queensland crops

Growers with newly sown winter crops in northern New South Wales and Queensland are looking for better control options as mice populations run rampant.

A strong winter 2024 season and 2025 summer crop has left heavy stubbles in these areas as prime food and cover for mice.

The Weekly Times spoke to Grain Producers Australia Northern Region Director Brendan Taylor, who is calling for access to ZP50 strength mouse bait, rather than the currently permitted ZP25 bait.

“We are at the start of sowing and have been going for a few weeks in southern Queensland and have been planting into good moisture,” he said.

“There are some late summer crops that are getting a proper hammering from mice, and you can see them on roads at night, and they are also getting into sheds. Generally, there are plenty of mice about,” he said.

Emergency permit access, granted by Australia's chemical regulator the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), expired in December 2023.

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