Three mouse updates will be delivered by Agriculture Victoria at Hopetoun, Kalkee and Underbool next week, in readiness for the season ahead.

CSIRO mouse specialist Steve Henry, who will speak at each of the workshops, said mouse numbers were currently higher than usual and problems were anticipated at cropping time.

"Mouse numbers have been building since the strong harvest in 2016," he said.

"That carried through to winter in 2017 and numbers were already high when breeding started again in spring.

"It's very concerning."

With stubble burning now understood to be ineffective in significantly reducing mouse numbers, Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Heather Drendel said it was important for farmers to hear about the control best options available to them.

"Tactics to manage mice pre-sowing, during sowing and in-crop will be part of the update with information on a range of integrated tactics," she said.

The Mouse updates will be held at the following venues next week;

  • Underbool Recreation Reserve, on 15 March at 7.30 pm
  • Hopetoun Recreation Reserve on 16 March at 3.45 pm
  • Kalkee Recreation Reserve on 17 March at 7.00 pm