Forbes is among 20 regional locations across NSW where the Berajiklian Coalition Government will establish grain treatment sites to help combat the ongoing mouse plague.

“Pending approval, sites will also be set up at other western NSW areas including Nyngan, Condobolin, Coonabarabran and Coonamble, while Merriwa and Walgett are also on the list,” said NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said.

Mr Marshall also confirmed his hometown of Gunnedah, Dubbo, Holbrook, Inverell, Mudgee, Jerilderie, Narrandera, Scone, Tamworth, Moree, Narrabri, Wagga Wagga and Warialda as the other areas where sites will be situated.

“Instead of the initially suggested ten sites, we’ve now made our grain treatment even easier for farmers to access and doubled that number to 20,” Minister Marshall said.

“These mice are a scourge on our regional communities, but these 20 sites will be strategically located throughout the state’s most affected areas, from Warialda to Wagga, and Condobolin to Scone, to help ease the burden on our farmers,” he said.

Farmers can register for grain treatment through their nearest Local Land Service office, with sites to operate in rotation and by appointment to ensure safe chemical handling and access for staff and customers.

Mr Marshall said the treatment sites would complement the measures already put in place by the NSW Government to support landholders. “Our workshops educating farmers on best practice to manage mice continue to be well subscribed and well received,” Mr Marshall said.

The free grain treatment is part of the NSW Government’s $50 million support package to manage the impacts on regional communities, which also includes bait rebates for households and small businesses, community workshops and targeted pest research.

It’s been compared to the mice plague of 2011 that cost farmers $200 million.

Now, nearly a decade on, everyone is gearing up for the next wave and with all the welcomed rain comes mice, who breed and feed every 10-21 days and can produce up to 500 offspring in a season.

Information via the Central West Local Land Services website and Senior Land Services Officer for Mixed Farming, Callen Thompson has some tips for farmers explaining that, “Producers also need to be mindful that although mice will normally only travel 3-5 metres to forage for food, when numbers are high, they will actively travel.”

“So, if you do decide to treat paddocks early, you will need to at least budget on regular perimeter bating to keep them out of your paddocks.”

“The reason mouse numbers are high this year is because of the positive season. There is plenty of grass and crop seed on the ground to eat and a lot of grass and stubble that they can use for habitat,” Thompson said via the website.

For more information, contact Central West Local Land Services.

The Australian Government is investing $10 million through the Climate Services for Agriculture Program to help farm businesses increase drought and climate resilience.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the program was funded through the $5 billion Future Drought Fund and would provide farmers with access to trusted and relevant information on national and regional climate data.

“We are the first government to look to the future to prepare for the next drought which is why we have established the $5 billion Future Drought Fund,” David said.

“The Climate Services for Agriculture Program will complement seasonal forecasts and climate guides that are currently available through BOM by providing detailed regional information about future drought and climate risks and inform management actions to address vulnerabilities and prepare for future impacts.

“CSIRO and BOM will engage the agricultural sector to determine the type of climate information that is most useful to their businesses and test in four pilot regions to ensure the decision support tools to meet their needs.”

“The pilot regions will be identified in early 2021 and will include a range of climatic regions and agricultural sectors.”

The Climate Services for Agriculture Program is one of the foundational programs announced under the Australian Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund on 1 July 2020. The Australian Government continues to support farmers and regional businesses through tough times.

For more information go to: www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund#climate-services-for-agriculture-program.

Cereal, pulse and oilseed growers are being reminded to adhere to label directions for herbicides used as a desiccant and understand their target market requirements this harvest to avoid issues with chemical residues.

It is critical growers are aware that maximum residue limits (MRLs) in Australia could differ from MRLs in international grain markets such as the European Union, according to Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Manager Chemical Regulation, Gordon Cumming.

“Late season rain has created harvest issues across areas of Australia, and growers are now carefully considering their options when it comes to managing their crop and maximising yield, weed control and grain quality to achieve the best profit margins,” Gordon said.

“However, where chemical desiccants, used to speed up the crop ripening process, are being considered there is the potential for chemical residues to arise that may exceed certain market requirements, even when used in accordance with the label directions.”

“For example, for durum, the Australian MRL for diquat is 2 milligrams/kilogram, whereas in a major potential market for Australian durum, the European Union, there is a significantly lower MRL of 0.02mg/kg.”

Chair of the National Working Party on Grain Protection (NWPGP), Gerard McMullen, said all markets had strict limits for chemical residues and growers and marketers needed to work together to ensure grain was compliant with market requirements.

“Marketers need to closely monitor market requirements and provide advice to growers. Non-compliance can lead to the rejection of shipments in export markets and create ongoing market access issues,” Gerard said.

Differences in regulations make grain exporters wary and many were reluctant to consider buying grain from crops treated with certain chemicals, such as diquat on durum.

Growers have a legal obligation to follow label directions and understand the needs of their buyers. Exporters also have a role to play. Grain should not be exported unless the residue status is known and complies with market requirements.

The GRDC has produced fact sheets on desiccants for use by crop type. For more information go to https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/factsheets/2020/preharvest-herbicide-use-fact-sheet.

Melanie Suitor and Peter Nixon, Manager of Forbes Machinery Centre, with an auger.

Agricultural machinery owners and operators are invited to get road ready ahead of the 2020 harvest season, by picking up a free Moving Harvest Machinery USB from all agricultural machinery retailers and rural supply stores in the Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire areas. The USBs are also available at the Councils Administration Offices.

The ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USBs contain all of the relevant notices for safely and legally moving agricultural machinery and combinations on the road along with other useful harvest safety information.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says it is imperative that all operators be aware of their responsibilities whilst operating over dimensional vehicles this harvest.

“For the first time in a few years it is looking like it’s going to be a great harvest, which means lots of extra truck movements and agricultural machinery will be using local roads.”

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to,” Melanie said.

Regulations do change and this USB will help to ensure that people have up to date information.

“We provide these handy credit card style USBs every harvest. It has been updated with the most current notices and provides other relevant information such as load restraint, chain of responsibility and the Harvesting Fire Safety Guide, to name a few. There is also a live link document, which provides the web address for the attachments on the USB. It is advisable to regularly check the National Heavy Vehicle Regulators website www.nhvr.gov.au for updated notices and/or changes to operating conditions,” Melanie said.

This year there are 1,000 USB devices available.