Granular Products has introduced a zinc phosphide mouse control product to their range with the launch of GP Mousemaster 25 pellets.
“Mouse control pellets are a great fit to our existing product range, especially as we have a fleet of experienced aerial operators who can work with farmers to get baits on the ground quickly when they most need it,” said national sales manager Andrew Simmons.
“Unfortunately, as climatic conditions become favourable for crop production, they're also favourable for mouse breeding. Mice are prolific breeders.
“According to the CSIRO, mice can give birth to a litter of up to 10 offspring every 20 days, and they can fall pregnant as soon as they have given birth. A single pair of mice can breed up to 500 mice in a breeding season.
Mr Simmons said mice can cause damage during all stages of crop growth and significantly reduce crop yields.
“Farmers report significant damage in canola, lentils and other pulse crops. Likewise, mice removing freshly sown seed, browsing shoots and feeding on developing heads and seed pods can have devastating impacts on newly sown crops.”
In addition to eating crops, mice can also damage infrastructure such as irrigation systems and farm buildings and can contaminate storages on farm.
“We would certainly encourage landholders to get out into their paddocks to check for signs of infestation now, even if you have a localised population, any mouse population can quickly escalate with a devasting impact,” Mr Simmons said.
He said control is about looking earlier and ordering bait as soon as you identify any infestation. “The CSIRO advises growers to be proactive about the assessing the situation with mice in their paddocks and be prepared to bait as they sow to reduce impact.
“GP Mousemaster 25 Zinc phosphide pellets are 4mm diameter and are hard durable pellets making them very efficient for spreading. Pellets are applied 1 kg/ha which equates to around 2–3 pellets per square metre.
“Best practice methods include reducing alternate food sources for mice in the lead-up to applications. Baiting is more effective when there are less alternative feed sources, so where possible, growers should aim to clean up grain spills, control weeds and reduce available food prior to application.
“Essentially, if you apply the pellets when the food source in the paddocks is at the lowest level, this will give mice the best chance to find the bait.”
For recently sown crops, best protection is achieved if pellets are applied at the time of sowing, or within 24 hours. Damage is most severe for about 2–3 weeks after crop emergence and again around seed-set.
Mr Simmons said proactive mouse baiting programs involve controlling numbers up to six weeks prior to planting. If numbers persist, then baits can be reapplied at sowing.
“GP Mousemaster 25 is available through Granular Products rural reseller network and with our existing fleet of aerial operators on board, we can help farmers get onto mouse infestations before they explode,” Mr Simmons said.
