FIGHT AGAINST MICE: The NSW Government has invested heavily in the eradication of mice. Pic courtesy of Stephen Michael Barnett.
NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway, is encouraging primary producers experiencing financial hardship due to the mice plague to apply for rebates for the purchase of the critical mouse plague control chemical zinc phosphide.
Mr Farraway said this is part of the NSW Nationals commitment to supporting primary producers in Central West who have been battling with the devastating wave of mice in regional NSW.
“This new funding will offer primary producers in Central West financial relief by providing a rebate of 50 percent on zinc phosphide purchases, up to $10,000, to help cash flow and confidence to place advance orders on zinc phosphide ahead of spring,” Mr Farraway said.
“Communities in the Central West have done it tough off the back of drought, bush-fires, floods and COVID-19 and the last thing we needed was these vermin terrorizing us in our sleep and destroying crops.
“The NSW Nationals are building a safer and stronger regional NSW and these rebates are part of our commitment to supporting our agriculture sector which gives so much to this state.”
NSW Nationals Leader and Deputy Premier, John Barilaro said the NSW Government was working with manufacturers to shore up supplies of zinc phosphide to ensure the State’s farmers are prepared to stamp out a possible spring surge in the mouse population.
“When the mouse bait and treated grain programs were announced I said there would be more support to come and today I’m pleased to confirm we will extend the program to include primary producer rebates for zinc phosphide,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We will make sure any baits produced with zinc phosphide are earmarked for sale to NSW producers first, and we will continue to work to connect manufacturers with Commonwealth support such as the International Freight Assistance Mechanism.”