NO-TILL farming systems have been held responsible for the big spike in mouse numbers in some parts of southern Australia over the past couple of years, but opinion is divided as to whether minimum tillage systems have led to an increase in rodent activity.
There is a school of thought that no-till systems, where stubble is retained, provide more food and shelter for mice.
Steve Henry, CSIRO researcher, said he did not think no-till was a key factor in leading to the recent outbreaks.
“There were many large scale mouse plagues last century and those were in the days where people were still cultivating, so I don’t think you could say no-till is to blame,” Mr Henry said.
“Certainly I would not go out and start ploughing purely as a means to limit mouse numbers.”
However, Parilla, South Australia farmer and Grain Producers South Australia chairman Wade Dabinett said he felt no-till was a big factor in the increase in mouse numbers in recent years.
“You provide shelter for them, there is a feed source, it stands to reason the mice build up in these conditions,” Mr Dabinett said.
He said in his local area there had also been a big difference in mouse numbers in grazed and ungrazed paddocks.
“Not everyone can run sheep, but certainly those that have seem to have had lower mouse numbers as there is that competition for feed.”