The NSW government has announced the mouse bait rebate program will be backdated after coping backlash for their "reluctance to recognise the scale of the problem".
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The government recently established a $50 million free bait and household cash package to assist with the plague but it only applied to products purchased after May 13, despite some areas battling the rodents for the last six months.
Eligible households, businesses and primary producers will now be able to claim mouse baits, traps or cleaning materials purchased on or after February 1.
The program is still expected to open in early July but the government website was updated on Friday with the eligibility changes.
Primary producers will be able to claim up to $1000 while households can access up to $500.
Both NSW Farmers and the Country Women's Association of NSW campaigned for government action on the pest problem that had seen some primary producers pay up to $150,000 to try and combat the numbers with little reprieve.
A NSW Farmers survey estimated potential wheat losses were already at around $955 million and more than 40 per cent of growers would look to reduce the area they plant in 2021 due to the lack of baiting support at the time of sowing.
Earlier this week NSW Farmers' president James Jackson told The Land farmers needed support now.
- More to come.
