Australian farmer counts the cost of mouse plague after drought | The Business Standard
Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Latest
  • Economy
  • Videos
  • World+Biz
  • Features
  • More
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
June 15, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe

Main menu

  • Latest
  • Economy
  • Videos
  • World+Biz
  • Features
  • More
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2025
Australian farmer counts the cost of mouse plague after drought

Europe

Reuters
31 May, 2021, 10:45 am
Last modified: 31 May, 2021, 10:51 am

Related News

  • Drought-hit Morocco asks citizens not to slaughter sheep on Eid al-Adha
  • PKSF chairman urges implementation of long-term interventions to combat drought in Barind
  • Rizwana urges urgent global action on drought, degradation
  • Brazil's Amazon drought disrupts residents' lives
  • Amazon rivers' low water levels bring fresh challenges for locals

Australian farmer counts the cost of mouse plague after drought

Moeris is among thousands of farmers in parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria states dealing with an infestion of mice that have ravaged crops, gnawed through farming equipment and household appliances, caused power blackouts and invaded supermarkets

Reuters
31 May, 2021, 10:45 am
Last modified: 31 May, 2021, 10:51 am
A mouse is caught in a trap on the property of grain farmer Norman Moeris as parts of New South Wales experience a "mouse plague," in Gilgandra, Australia, May 30, 2021. Picture taken May 30, 2021. REUTERS/Jill Gralow
A mouse is caught in a trap on the property of grain farmer Norman Moeris as parts of New South Wales experience a "mouse plague," in Gilgandra, Australia, May 30, 2021. Picture taken May 30, 2021. REUTERS/Jill Gralow

Australian farmer Norman Moeris lifts a protective tarpaulin covering his valuable grain harvest on a cool evening - only to reveal a seething mass of rodents.

Moeris is among thousands of farmers in parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria states dealing with an infestion of mice that have ravaged crops, gnawed through farming equipment and household appliances, caused power blackouts and invaded supermarkets.

"This grain here, the mice have just totally ruined it. (We'll) probably just dig a hole and bury the lot of it," Moeris said. "Not worth feeding to the livestock in case you kill them."

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

For Moeris and other farmers, the timing of the plague is heartbreaking, caused by heavy rains in recent months that had relieved the country's worst drought in years.

The wet weather not only helped produce Australia's largest-ever grain crop, but also provided ample food for the mice, fuelling their fast reproductive cycle.

Moeris grows wheat, barley, oats, chickpeas and broad beans, and rears 900 merino sheep on 2,800 acres on his farm near Gilgandra, 430 km (267 miles) northwest of Sydney.

The 65-year-old said he has lost $130,000 worth of grain due to the mouse plague, following the loss of about 2,100 sheep during the three-year drought, and there's little he can do.

Despite perimeter baiting around paddocks and laying traps and water buckets around the house, the mice just keep coming.

"It's just hard, after the drought, that's the biggest trouble," said Moeris. "We've been on our knees, we got up a bit, now we're back on our knees with the mice."

The New South Wales state government earlier this month offered farmers free bait to eradicate the rodents, but has so far resisted calls from some to allow the use of bromadiolone, a poison currently banned in Australia. Some farmers and environmentalists have warned of the unintended consequences to native animals from its use.

Moeris has no option but to press on.

"What do you do? Do it again next spring, hopefully to God it all comes off," he said. "We'll do it again, the mice will come back again in another couple of years' time and we'll probably do it all again. That's Australian life."

World+Biz

Australian farmer / mouse plague / drought

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    5 Islamic banks to merge into one, no one will lose their jobs: BB governor
  • People watch from a bridge as flames from an Israeli attack rise from Sharan Oil depot, following Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 15, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
    Iran says it will stop 'self-defence response' if Israel halts attacks
  • Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin addressing a seminar with stakeholders at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon on 29 April 2025. File Photo: TBS
    Can’t confirm national election date yet: CEC Nasir Uddin

MOST VIEWED

  • Tour operator Borsha Islam. Photo: Collected
    ‘Tour Expert’ admin Borsha Islam arrested over Bandarban tourist deaths
  • Fighter jet. Photo: AFP
    3 F-35 fighter jets downed, two Israeli pilots in custody, claims Iranian media
  • Infographic: TBS
    Chattogram Port proposes 70%-100% tariff hike
  • Vehicles were seen stuck on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway due to a traffic jam stretching 15 kilometres on 14 June 2025. Photo: TBS
    15km traffic jam on Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway as post-Eid rush continues
  • Ahsan H Mansur. TBS sketch
    BB governor meets global litigation funders to mobilise $100m for tracing stolen assets
  • Burnt out cars and damaged buildings are all that’s left of this street in Ramat Gan Credit: AP
    Iran threatens to strike US, UK, and French bases if they help defend Israel

Related News

  • Drought-hit Morocco asks citizens not to slaughter sheep on Eid al-Adha
  • PKSF chairman urges implementation of long-term interventions to combat drought in Barind
  • Rizwana urges urgent global action on drought, degradation
  • Brazil's Amazon drought disrupts residents' lives
  • Amazon rivers' low water levels bring fresh challenges for locals

Features

Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

2d | Mode
Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

3d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

4d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

6d | Features

More Videos from TBS

Israel-Iran strikes: What are the worst-case scenarios?

Israel-Iran strikes: What are the worst-case scenarios?

52m | TBS World
EC moving forward with polls preparations, committed to ensuring level playing field: CEC

EC moving forward with polls preparations, committed to ensuring level playing field: CEC

1h | TBS Today
Iran-Israel conflict heats up at G7 summit

Iran-Israel conflict heats up at G7 summit

2h | TBS World
Is Regime Change in Iran Israel's Goal?

Is Regime Change in Iran Israel's Goal?

3h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net