AGRIBUSINESS

Monitor mice activity this summer

On-farm hygiene is vital this harvest to reduce the risk of increased mouse populations.

Staff writer

This article is 3 years old. Images might not display.

With harvest underway in many regions of Australia, grain spillages are likely to be a food source for mice, which could present a potential risk of further increased numbers over summer.

It is important that growers harvest as cleanly as possible to reduce mouse food availability in the paddock and monitor mice numbers over summer and have baits available if further control is required.

Grain producers and landholders are advised to minimise grain spillage during harvest, monitor paddocks and grain storage areas for mice activity over summer, implement control measures when necessary and report any mouse activity to the FeralScan MouseAlert app.

To reduce the risk of mouse numbers increasing over the summer, control measures such as the following can be put in place:
- Good on-farm hygiene
- Monitoring and detection - using hole counts, chew cards and trapping to determine mice numbers
- Baiting - bait when required according to the label directions on approved products to ensure baiting occurs within the optimal time frame. There is a small window within which to bait before crops mature and set seeds or pods.

More details on effective mouse control strategies can be found here: https://bit.ly/30Wfoab

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Large Square Baler Testing (March 2025)

This month Kondinin Group has capacity tested four high-density, large square balers in what is believed to be a first for Australia. Balers from Krone, Kuhn, Massey Ferguson and New Holland were put through their paces, working in windrowed straw.

editions

Research Report: Rural Communications (February 2025)

With the departure of 3G technology and the emergence of 5G and satellite options, there are significant changes on the connectivity horizon. This month Kondinin Group engineers Ben White and Josh Giumelli investigate what is the best way to stay connected in regional and remote areas.

editions

Research Report: Chaser Bins (January 2025)

Chaser bins play a vital role when it comes to on-farm grain logistics. The January Research Report features a comprehensive round up of the latest chaser bins of 30 tonnes-plus capacity.

editions

Research Report: Succession Planning (December 2024)

This month's research report, compiled with the input of John White, Rural Generations, is a great resource for succession planning. A key message from the report is to start succession planning as soon as possible.