CONCERNS about a potential mice outbreak in SA and bait supply issues on the back of intensifying populations across the eastern seaboard have graingrowers on high alert.
Mice numbers have reached plague proportions across the border and despite SA recording low numbers, CSIRO researcher Steve Henry said it was crucial graingrowers took a proactive approach.
"The issues in Vic are of concern because we are seeing numbers steadily rise in the SA Mallee in the past few weeks," he said.
"We are expecting numbers in the South East to rise more than other areas in the next month or so."
Mr Henry urged growers to secure bait, due to the high levels of product being sold interstate.
Wilhelm Rural's Brenton Wilhelm confirmed that there was "plenty" of bait from SA being secured by eastern distributors.
Mr Wilhelm assured SA growers that he had secured a robust bait supply, but if overseas transport issues and eastern mice populations continued to rise, the impact on SA bait supplies was unknown.
"We placed an order for zinc phosphide to be shipped from India and it generally takes six weeks. That wait has increased to 12 weeks, we think," he said.
"December shipments have not arrived in SA yet and last week, 150 tonnes of bait went into NSW to help protect cotton, corn and sunflower crops."
Byrne Ag Lameroo agronomist Stephen Byrne said there had been an increase in numbers in the past three weeks.
"We had a bumper harvest and there is plenty of food," he said.
Mr Byrnes said most growers would not have bait supplies on-hand, but believed rising mice populations across the border would not necessarily translate to higher numbers in the SA Mallee.
"General talk is that mice are around and increasing but growers are not too concerned about an outbreak just yet," he said.
"But, if it does happen and bait supplies have been distributed interstate, we could have a problem."
National Mouse Management Working Group member and Lock graingrower Andrew Polkinghorne said farmers in the area were confident about securing bait.
"There is reasonably low signs of mice but it is slightly higher than the same time last year," he said.
"In terms of preparedness, most farmers will not have bait on-hand but we have a local station."
Despite low numbers, Mr Polkinghorne said there was still concern about bait supplies if the situation in NSW and Qld continued to escalate.
Independent agronomist Craig Davis said low levels of activity had been recorded in the Lower North, but he expected mice numbers to remain steady and most likely increase.
"There was a lot of wind damage during harvest," he said.
Although limited active mice burrows have been found in the area so far, Mr Davis said the level of mice activity and tracks was high.
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Vanessa Binks
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
