Mouse Monitoring Numbers in the Gwydir
To all Gwydir Farmers and Agronomists,
We are still seeing some mice in our Gwydir region despite wet, cool conditions (see current status below). A number of people have raised concerns about mice numbers between now and spring. A recent meeting of agronomists decided that we really need to objectively monitor mice population over the next 2 months and share the collated information with everyone so we can have the upper hand on numbers for the possible need for increased monitoring or control.
As such we, Janelle Montgomery (CottonInfo, SOS Gwydir) and Kate Pearce (North West LLS), have offered to coordinate mice monitoring around the region – but we need your help.
We would like a couple of farmers from each locality (Moree, Pally, Gurley, Mallawa, Garah, Weemelah, Bullarah, Rowena etc) within the Gwydir Valley to monitor mouse numbers using the GRDC Mouse Cards once a week between now and September. We would especially like to see some growers with some early crops to volunteer to do some monitoring.
What we need you to do:
Instructions for using Mouse Chew Cards:
Mouse chew cards Mouse chew cards are set out overnight and the proportion of the card that has been chewed by mice is recorded when it is collected the following day.
How to use chew cards:
1. Pre-soak the cards in canola oil (for about 10–15 minutes) and ensure you have enough fasteners; bent wire pegs are the best.
2. Select a 1 or 2 paddocks that are representative of the farm.
3. Place the chew cards approximately 30 m in from the edge of the paddock. Peg each chew card to the ground in a line of 10 cards spaced at 1 card every 10 m. Follow the furrows to make it easier to find the cards again the next morning.
4. While walking through the paddock, look for signs of fresh mouse activity or damage.
5. Retrieve the chew cards the following morning and assess for evidence of mouse damage by averaging the damage across the 10 cards.
Couple of factsheets on mice:
https://grdc.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/243804/GRDC-Tips-and-Tactics-Better-Mouse-Management-National-2017-high-res.PDF
https://grdc.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/307961/Mouse_card_A4web_compressed.pdf
Current Status 7/7/2021 – Notes from meeting with agronomist:
We look forward to hearing from you.
THANKS
From Janelle and Kate
We are still seeing some mice in our Gwydir region despite wet, cool conditions (see current status below). A number of people have raised concerns about mice numbers between now and spring. A recent meeting of agronomists decided that we really need to objectively monitor mice population over the next 2 months and share the collated information with everyone so we can have the upper hand on numbers for the possible need for increased monitoring or control.
As such we, Janelle Montgomery (CottonInfo, SOS Gwydir) and Kate Pearce (North West LLS), have offered to coordinate mice monitoring around the region – but we need your help.
We would like a couple of farmers from each locality (Moree, Pally, Gurley, Mallawa, Garah, Weemelah, Bullarah, Rowena etc) within the Gwydir Valley to monitor mouse numbers using the GRDC Mouse Cards once a week between now and September. We would especially like to see some growers with some early crops to volunteer to do some monitoring.
What we need you to do:
- Volunteer to check mice numbers – reply to this email and let us know you are keen to help.
- Get some Mouse Chew Cards – we can post some out, your agronomist should have some, NW Local Land Services have some.
- Put out some Mouse Chew Cards once a week (instructions below). We have decided to use Mouse Chew Cards so we have some objective data and method of monitoring is consistent between the farms.
- Check cards the next day and send in results via this link: https://forms.office.com/r/WJbKtJhTEX (click on it and see the information we are asking for – just some basics)
- Any trouble with the form – just take a photo of your cards and send them in to Janelle Montgomery, M. 0428640990.
- Repeat each week until September.
- Each week Kate and I will collate the results and send out a summary to everyone, so we can be prepared.
Instructions for using Mouse Chew Cards:
Mouse chew cards Mouse chew cards are set out overnight and the proportion of the card that has been chewed by mice is recorded when it is collected the following day.
How to use chew cards:
1. Pre-soak the cards in canola oil (for about 10–15 minutes) and ensure you have enough fasteners; bent wire pegs are the best.
2. Select a 1 or 2 paddocks that are representative of the farm.
3. Place the chew cards approximately 30 m in from the edge of the paddock. Peg each chew card to the ground in a line of 10 cards spaced at 1 card every 10 m. Follow the furrows to make it easier to find the cards again the next morning.
4. While walking through the paddock, look for signs of fresh mouse activity or damage.
5. Retrieve the chew cards the following morning and assess for evidence of mouse damage by averaging the damage across the 10 cards.
Couple of factsheets on mice:
https://grdc.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/243804/GRDC-Tips-and-Tactics-Better-Mouse-Management-National-2017-high-res.PDF
https://grdc.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/307961/Mouse_card_A4web_compressed.pdf
Current Status 7/7/2021 – Notes from meeting with agronomist:
- Seeing mice in pastures and riparian areas
- Numbers have dropped off in last few weeks, but still pockets of them.
- Seen in chickpeas – eating the seed attached to the plant after germination
- Relatively active in fields that had irrigated mungbeans, not widespread
- Activity around the perimeter of chickpea crops
- One report of a farmer moving his grain from a bunker into silos, moving mat of mice, but after a few days numbers have dropped
- Old sorghum stubble, where chickpeas have been sown into stubble seeing a few mice
- Concern but not alarmed at present, but there is a need to monitor over next couple of months.
- Need for objective monitoring – mouse cards, same size card (GRDC cards), use canola oil only (consistency across monitoring)
- Grower need to be involved, not practical for agros to be heading back to same farm to check mouse cards
- LLS and CottonInfo cannot monitor, relying on agros and growers to do this, we can collate and distribute results.
We look forward to hearing from you.
THANKS
From Janelle and Kate
Janelle Montgomery
Cotton Info Regional Extension Officer 0428 640 990 |
Kate Pearce
Local Land Services Mixed Farming Officer 0429 900 329 |