Agricultural experts are urging farmers across regional NSW to get out of their utes and closely monitor their paddocks following forecasts of a new mouse plague in spring.

NSW Farmers Vice President Xavier Martin said mouse activity is already on the increase in some areas, according to predictive modelling from the CSIRO and the latest Mouse Update from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

“The August update states that mouse numbers are moderate to high in parts of the Central West and highly variable in northern NSW, with serious concerns about the impact on chickpea crops,” Mr Martin said.

“I am starting to see increased activity on my own farm, and I am hearing the same from a lot of members.”

Mr Martin encouraged farmers to take advantage of the state government's zinc phosphide rebate, which offers a 50 per cent rebate of costs up to $10,000 for successful applicants.

Applications for these farm rebates are open until 17 December and a claim can be made retrospectively for bait costs incurred back to January 2021.

However, Mr Martin said though NSW Farmers welcomed the government support for affected farmers, he believed further funding could be allocated to the rebate scheme.

“We do continue to call on the reallocation of funds not used for the defunct bromadiolone baiting scheme to be put into Mouse Bait Rebate Package," he said.

"The mouse plague of 2021 is clearly not over and farmers will need all the support they can get.”

Despite criticisms of a slow response the state government's mouse plague support packages now total $150 million, which also include rebate packages for individuals, up to $500, and businesses, up to $1000, through applications on the Service NSW website.

However, some business owners in regional NSW say though they appreciate all the support they can get, the available rebate funding barely covers what they lost.

One of these is supermarket franchise owner Robert Kahn who said his store in Coonamble was hit particularly hard.

"I can see how the rebate would be helpful for the really small businesses, but when the mice were at their worst, we were throwing out about $5000 worth of stock every week," Mr Kahn said.

"So to be able to apply for only $1000 compared to that, it's better nothing, but it's a bit of an insult."

The farm rebate program is being administered by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.

For more information about the zinc phosphide rebate program click here.

Farmers can access the CSIRO/GRDC August Mouse Update report at www.feralscan.org.au/mousealert or here.