By Isabella Kelly

ABC Rural

Topic:Pests

In short:

Farmers are worried about a mouse outbreak as they start seeding.

CSIRO is catching many mice on the Adelaide Plains.

What's next?

Farmers should think about using bait when they plant crops.

Farmers in South Australia are facing a mouse plague, which is a big problem.

Seeding starts this weekend, and farmers have seen more mice.

Matt Davey, a farmer, has seen mice around his farm.

The CSIRO says this area will have many mice.

The CSIRO's forecast says mouse activity is high in parts of the state.

Matt Davey says mouse levels are the worst in four or five years.

There's more water, so the mice can breed more.

The CSIRO has been watching mouse populations on the Adelaide Plains.

Research officer Steve Henry says they're seeing many mice.

Steve Henry is doing mouse bait trials on the Adelaide Plains.

They're catching 100 to 200 mice per hectare in some areas.

In some areas, they're catching 400 to 600 mice per hectare.

No second chances

Mice are bad news, especially at seeding time.

Mice eat grain, which can hurt the crop.

In a plague, huge areas can be destroyed.

Matt Davey is catching mice in his home.

A plague is 800 mice per hectare, but farmers should act now.

After the seed is gone, the plant is gone.

Canola seed is in short supply this year.

Agronomist Nathaniel Lloyd says there's been an uptick in mouse control sales.

He's seen more mouse holes in paddocks.

The numbers are building up, and it's a concern for seeding.

The Davey family's dog, Oreo, is helping with the mice.

The business is preparing for more bait sales.

They're taking orders and making sure they have enough bait.

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Baby boom

Mice can have many babies, so the problem can get worse.

If you need help:

Record-breaking rain may have contributed to the mouse problem.

Steve Henry warned about a potential mouse plague last year.

High numbers of mice often follow dry conditions and then heavy rain.

That's what happened in South Australia.

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