Agriculture Victoria hosted a series of forums last week to update farmers on mouse activity before sowing.

Land management extension officer Heather Drendel said the forums, at Hopetoun, Kalkee and Underbool, were well attended.

CSIRO mouse specialist Steve Henry spoke at the events and Ms Drendel said his main message to growers was to get out in their paddocks.

“There are reports of strong mouse activity between Pinnaroo and Walpeup and while we haven’t got numbers for between Hopetoun and Horsham yet, farmers are suggesting mouse numbers are strong there as well,” she said.

“Farmers need to be vigilant and monitor their paddocks.

“If people are row burning, they are taking away the trash that mice were living under, but it’s important to also get in and bait immediately after.

“If people are prickle chaining, they should also bait straight away.”

Ms Drendel said it was important growers stuck to the recommended quantity of bait as well. She said overall the forums were positive and attracted good crowds.

“Growers are seeking information and they are wanting to do the right thing – it’s just disappointing that we do have moderate mouse numbers around at the moment,” she said.

Mouse issues in the region were also discussed in parliament last week, with Member for Northern Victoria Luke O’Sullivan calling for a taskforce to be set up in the lead-up to another horror plague in the Wimmera.

Mr O’Sullivan said mice have been a problem for the past few years, with 2018 looking to be no different.

“We are just approaching sowing season and mice are starting to breed up very quickly,” he said.

“We are getting to a point now where if the mice get that bad there will be shortages of zinc phosphide.”