Farmers and nature conservationists are concerned the NSW government’s plan to roll out what it calls a “napalm”-like poison to combat the state’s mouse plague will lead to the death of farm pets and native animals.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the government had secured 10,000 litres of the deadly chemical bromadiolone, saying it would give farmers a “new tool” to kill the vermin overrunning rural NSW.
But NSW Farmers vice-president Xavier Martin said members feared farm dogs and livestock would ingest the deadly substance, and it was also likely to poison the food chain if approved for use.
The poison, which is not approved for outdoor use in Australia, can take up to a week to kill an animal and remains toxic for more than 100 days.
“They’re very concerned about the hawks, eagles, barn owls and the native animals that we take care for,” Mr Martin said.
Bromadiolone has been illegal to use outdoors in NSW since 2017, but about 6000 litres was used to successfully battle the state’s last mouse plague in 2014.
The government is waiting on approval from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) before the poison can be distributed.
Mr Marshall said on Friday there would be 20 grain treatment sites located from Tamworth to Wagga, and the substance would only be handled by experts to minimise risks to non-targets.
“These mice are a scourge on our regional communities, but these 20 sites will be strategically located throughout the state’s most affected areas, from Warialda to Jerilderie, and Condo to Scone, to help ease the burden,“ he said.
“When I’m on the ground talking to farmers, they tell me they need additional weapons against this pest, and bromadiolone will help achieve that alongside zinc phosphide.”
But Mr Martin described the strategy as “impractical and dysfunctional” and suggested Mr Marshall was playing politics in a situation the government itself had let “get out of hand”.
“Farmers trust the science but one thing we know doesn’t mix is politics and science,” he said.
“There’s a very good reason they (the APVMA) let the permit lapse. He (Mr Marshall) called it ‘napalm’.”
Mr Marshall’s office was approached for further comment.
It explained the chemical would only be handled by professionals to ensure it didn’t impact non-target species.
“To best manage any potential risks posed to non-target species, bromadiolone will only be handled by LLS experts,” a statement read.
“Landholders will also be educated on best practice and will need to adhere to strict APVMA guidelines when handling treated grain.”
Earlier in the month, NSW Farmers welcomed the state government’s $50m investment in culling the mice but later realised bromadiolone could be incredibly harmful.
“However, since the NSW government package was announced, we have found the proposed response is impractical, presently not registered for use and logistically not achievable,” the association said.
It argued zinc phosphide poisoning would be more appropriate, as it was “safe, effective and ready to go”.
The Nature Conservation Council released a statement on Friday supporting the culling of “invasive species and feral pests”.
But it also raised concerns for wildlife and farm animals.
“We all sympathise with communities battling this mouse plague, communities that have only recently emerged from years of drought,” it said in a statement.
“The last thing anybody wants is to make a bad situation worse by using chemicals that will poison wildlife food chains and potentially kill farm animals like working dogs and house cats.
“We must also ensure that native eagles, owls and reptiles don’t become collateral damage in the urgent battle to save crops and grain stores from this plague.”
The council is urging the government to opt for an alternative method, including using warfarin and coumatetralyl for indoor use and coumatetralyl and zinc phosphide for crops.
The plague is on track to cause up to $100m worth of damage and has already contributed to the mental health crisis in the regions.
Some farmers have lost as much as $300,000 each in ruined crops, as the mice chew through anything they can get their teeth in.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2021-05-21 03:55:58Z
CBMisAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS90ZWNobm9sb2d5L3NjaWVuY2UvYW5pbWFscy9pbXByYWN0aWNhbC1hbmQtZHlzZnVuY3Rpb25hbC1mYXJtZXJzLXNsYW0tZ292ZXJubWVudHMtbmFwYWxtLW1vdXNla2lsbGluZy1tZXRob2QvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS81ZWQzYmM4Yjk5OTAzMGExOTFhYTRlODQzZjEzZmZlZtIBsAFodHRwczovL2FtcC5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS90ZWNobm9sb2d5L3NjaWVuY2UvYW5pbWFscy9pbXByYWN0aWNhbC1hbmQtZHlzZnVuY3Rpb25hbC1mYXJtZXJzLXNsYW0tZ292ZXJubWVudHMtbmFwYWxtLW1vdXNla2lsbGluZy1tZXRob2QvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS81ZWQzYmM4Yjk5OTAzMGExOTFhYTRlODQzZjEzZmZlZg
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