The scurrying critters have taken over many North West towns, with crops being decimated left, right and centre.

Rural Aid counsellor Gary Bentley said this meant farmers were being hit both financially and mentally, following on from the intense drought.

"They've finally got to a stage where it's the best crop of many years and now the mice are moving in and cleaning the crops up," Mr Bentley said.

"They're getting into hay storages and eating hay out of the ground so destroying crops before they even get a chance to grow."

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Mullaley farmer Scott McCalman said he lost a total field of sorghum, and had to replant it twice.

"It caused some pretty extensive damage and that's challenging in the sense of how it's going to impact our net returns," Mr McCalman said.

"Ag I think needs some consecutive years to get back on track and this was one we didn't need.

"It's just another thing they weren't expecting and don't need and have to work their way through, and if they want to fight it there's chemicals they can buy, but obviously that costs money, so they have to wait for the weather to change."

But Mr McCalman said despite everything, farmers needed to stay positive, and if they were feeling overwhelmed, to make sure they spoke to someone.

"If anyone is struggling under it they should be trying to chat to their agronomists or advisors or other farmers and at least if they have that conversation they'll realise they're not alone," he said.

"Communicating is a good way to see what other people are doing and what's working and what's not.

"We don't want to see people suffering anymore."

Mr Bentley said farmers needed our sympathy, because "when you're confronted with one disaster after another, it can be hard to see if things will get better, and it's putting that strain on individuals and then onto families and communities".

"When you have things rattling around inside your head it can be more upsetting than it needs to be," he told the Leader.

"We urge people to talk to someone, if they've got a problem and if things aren't clear in their own heads and if they cant find a counsellor, find someone they can trust and chat with.

"Talk, open up, and have a conversation, that's the first step."

Mr McCalman said hopefully with autumn now here, there'll be "more natural mortality".

"We are going into autumn, we've had rainfall, our district is primed for a good winter crop which would be so good for our area and good income for our whole valley," he said.

"We've just to got to step up and try and tackle it as best as we can."

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