Watch next for mice
From the September 2008 edition of Agriculture Today.
Winter crops could be at risk of extensive damage from mice during the next few months in parts of central and southern NSW.
Grain growers in particular need to keep a close watch for mouse damage in plantings of winter crops, and pass on information about mice numbers to the DPI or their local Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB).
Recent mouse monitoring showed that although mouse numbers are relatively small in most areas, the food resources available remain a potential trigger for a rapid increase as winter crops mature.
Plantings of canola and other oil seeds as well as winter cereals, such as wheat and barley, would be most at risk between now and November.
Mice will move from harvested summer crops and pasture paddocks into growing winter cropping areas, using all grassed areas and road verges as an interim refuge.
Damage to canola occurs mostly at early emergence and as pods start to develop, whereas damage to winter cereals will most likely be noticed at the nodes after tillering and up to grain development.
Report mouse activity to your RLPB.
Drought still holds
A decline in conditions around Nyngan and on the South Coast has seen the area of NSW affected by drought increase slightly again, with 66.2 per cent (up from 65pc) of the State now in drought.
The latest figures show the marginal area has decreased from 20.9pc to 18.5pc, while 15.3pc of NSW is in satisfactory (up from 14.1pc).
And while the eastern third of NSW received reasonable rainfall in July, the remainder only received up to 25 millimetres, and the Far North West just 5mm.
Crops near the coastal strip north of Newcastle to the border, and an area in the southern slopes around Albury and Wagga extending north to Orange, will benefit from decent falls.
However, most western and southern parts of the winter cropping belt missed out.
As a result of the patchy nature of this rain, crop growth and condition is highly variable.
While our farmers remain optimistic about this year’s crop prospects, above average spring rainfall will be needed to see them through to a reasonable yield.
Further reading
Early detection of mouse plagues
Mouse plague survival guide for Rural Lands Protection Board staff
Drought maps and drought assistance eligibility status of RLPBs
