WHEN you see mice running across the road it becomes evident that we are experiencing one of the most severe plagues in history.
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We have heard reports of mice entering cars, eating valuable canola seed. It brings back memories from a few years ago when the region was covered in locusts.
And lots of motorists have relayed stories about the the numbers of mice that can be seen on roads, especially at night in the southern parts of the Riverina.
NSW Farmers Grains Committee chairman Matthew Madden said mouse control was a serious extra cost for grain growers.
In a modest 1000ha cropping area, it costs around $17,000 dollars for one baiting run before the crop is even planted.
"In many areas, farmers are already on their third or fourth baiting run with costs only adding up and no end in sight," Mr Madden said.
Mr Madden said while farmers in some cropping regions are reporting a lull in mouse numbers, the CSIRO and Grains Research and Development Corporation are urging farmers to stay vigilant and not to rely on the weather to end the plague.
Mr Madden said the mouse plague is also posing a human and animal health risk in affected communities.
"The NSW Western Area Health Service is reporting increased cases of leptospirosis as a result of mice."
"This plague has destroyed tonnes of fodder, that was set aside for drought proofing and they are causing nightmares in the home, chewing through mattresses, spoiling food and people are waking up with them on their face. Cases of silage for animal feed being contaminated with Campylobacter have increased, making the silage unusable."