Mouse numbers continue to rise risking serious damage to summer crops, despite calls by AgForce and CSIRO warning growers to inspect for mice and bait during summer planting.
In December last year, the CSIRO monitored for mice infestations and found an estimated 100 to 200 active burrows per hectare at some locations across Queensland.
AgForce Grains president Brendan Taylor said that the level of inaction within the cropping community could only be because most were currently unaware of the extent of the problem.
"Those numbers, while not exceedingly high, were already cause for concern because of the extent of the damage mice can inflict on crops in a relatively short period of time," Mr Taylor said.
"It seems few growers took notice because mice populations are continuing to multiply, and at a time when many are just getting back on their feet after drought.
"If growers don't take steps - laying down baits, conducting visual inspections - we could end up with something approaching catastrophic.
"We're all in this together, and it's only by every single one of us working to control these pests on our own properties that we'll reduce the extent of the damage and avoid the huge cost to industry, and to individual growers."
Mice have been know to cause significant damage to crops, infrastructure and expensive cropping machinery.
CSIRO's Steve Henry said the rise in mouse numbers in paddocks throughout Queensland could lead to significant damage to freshly sown summer crops.
"With planting of summer crops still underway and some growers preparing for the next winter crop, growers cannot afford to be complacent," Mr Henry said.
"The storms and showers we've had so far this summer, and the rain forecast still to come, provide the sort of conditions perfect for sustained breeding through into next autumn.
"It is critical that farmers monitor all of their cropping paddocks and be prepared to bait if mouse numbers are high.
"If farmers think they will need to bait at sowing time, it's important they talk to bait suppliers early so that they have bait on hand when it's needed."
- Visit the GRDC Mouse Control website for further advice: grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/resources/mouse-control