The first barrel of a mouse poison so potent it has been banned for years will arrive in NSW this week and hundreds of farmers are jostling for some of the “napalm-like” weapon in their war against the current mouse plague.

But when trucks loaded with the most lethal mouse poison in the world arrive in Dubbo this week, it will still be illegal for use with the state government sweating on an emergency permit from the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to spread grain laced with the lethal bromadiolone around the perimeter of farm paddocks across NSW.

Luke Grant speaks to Xavier Martin, the NSW Farmers vice-president & grain grower from Mullaley on the Liverpool Plains, who reckons we’re playing catch-up and it’s because the government wasn’t prepared to harder, earlier.

“This mouse plague will be a significant financial hit to the NSW economy, as it is not just about the grain crop, and food production,  but also all the regional businesses, traders and employees that rely on the farming sector. The NSW grains industry alone employs more than 10,000 people in regional areas”, says Mr Martin.

“Each day we delay in taking effective action to control these mice will increase economic losses and the likelihood we will still be battling mice come Christmas time.”

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