Crop Devastation in NSW Raises Fears of a New Mouse Plague.

Farmers in New South Wales are on the lookout for increased mouse activity, fearing a repetition of the deadly 2021 plague.
Growing damage to crops and fodder has been reported across the state, prompting the NSW Farmers Association to issue a warning.

"Members are telling me they're seeing mice again all the way from Queensland down to the Victorian border and out west towards Adelaide," president Xavier Martin said.

"We need everyone to keep an eye out for mice, in particular use their chew cards, and report any activity to authorities.

"It's important to stay on top of this issue so we can avoid a repeat of the 2021 mouse plague, so please if you see something, say something."

Mice are predicted to have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in crop damage during the 2021 outbreak.

In 2021, CSIRO researchers collaborated with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to undertake a study that discovered the existing baiting tactics were insufficient to manage a pandemic.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority then approved an emergency use permission for 50 grammes per kilogramme double-strength zinc phosphide bait, which is still the prefered mice baiting choice for farmers across the country.

A rat infestation spread through northern Queensland earlier this year, eating the state's sugarcane harvest.

(Credit: 9 News)