It comes against a backdrop of rebuilding mice numbers, which Victorian Mallee agronomists believe will pose a serious threat to crops once again this spring.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), together with the Berriwillock Grain Co-Op, are lobbying hard for the re-opening of the sites, saying there is a need for quick access to bait over the coming weeks.

However, Animal Control Technologies (ACT), which manufactures Mouse-Off, the only widely available permanently registered bait for mice in broadacre cropping systems, says it has been working feverishly making bait over the winter months while the mice have been dormant, and that there is enough to satisfy demand.

“We’ve got bait right up to the roof,” said ACT managing director Linton Staples.

“We’ve been working extensively with our retailer network who have a clear idea of what real farmers are doing, and we’re confident there is enough bait out there to meet demand.

“Current orders don’t suggest we’re going to have any trouble providing people with bait.

“Mice numbers will not be as severe as in the autumn, which was the worst on record, but we’ve been busy stockpiling anyway to make sure there is enough.”

But although numbers may be down on autumn, Dodgshun Medlin agronomist Danny Conlan, based in Victoria’s Mallee warned growers not to underestimate the potential for damage as crops matured and mice became active once again.

“There hasn’t been so much damage in recent weeks, just a bit taken out of the flowers, but once canola and pulse pods begin to fill and reach maturity, I think we’re going to have a large problem on our hands again.”

Many Mallee producers baited three times, at a cost of $10 a hectare each time, during the autumn, and face the prospect of more baiting this spring.