What drives a mouse plague, and what can you do to reduce its impact?
CSIRO is finding out and researchers will be at the Australian National Field Days, Orange, NSW (11 - 13 November) to talk about it.
Mouse plagues have been a part of Australia's agricultural landscape since the turn of the century.
On average a mouse plague will occur somewhere in southern or eastern Australia every four years, and the economic, social and environmental costs can be savage.
An outbreak in southern Australia in 1993 caused estimated losses of more than $100 million. Grain-growers suffered significant crop loss and damage to stored grain, intensive livestock farmers experienced markedly reduced production levels, rural businesses endured mice spoiling stock and electrical equipment. What's more, changes in farm management practices appear to be making the situation worse.
But it's not all gloom and doom because CSIRO's Rodent Research Group, from years of investigation, is developing an understanding of what drives a mouse plague, and what farmers can do to reduce its impact. In some cases they've been able to predict plagues up to 18 months before they've occurred. The Group is working on a variety of long and short term solutions to mouse plagues and you can find out exactly what they're up to at the Australian National Field Days, Orange, NSW.
Contact: Wendy Parsons 0419 208 194