Town and Country Rural Supplies owner Vicki Wilson said morale among regular clients has improved since 2019 where Bathurst, alongside much of western NSW, was feeling the sting of a severe drought that saw Bathurst's water storage levels reach record lows.

But Ms Wilson said persistent rainfall, in addition to the difficulties surrounding COVID-19, has created a swathe of new challenges for graziers.

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"People have seen improvements on their properties across the board, but the constant rainfall has created new challenges such as weeds, grass tetany [low magnesium in cattle] and worms," she said.

"But with that said, there's really good money in cattle at the moment, and many graziers are reporting significant improvements on two years ago."

Ms Wilson said it's been hard to secure certain products in recent months as a result of supplier price hikes and increased shipping costs.

"For example, supplier prices for various fencing stock has risen around five to six per cent, which is the result of increased costs of ocean freight, raw materials and expanded range of finished products," which has caused our own prices to rise anywhere from seven to 15 per cent," she said.

"Glyphosate has also experienced a significant price rise due to overseas demand, as has fertiliser, and it may not be until 2022 when we see these prices return to normal."

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Ms Wilson said the persistent mouse plague that has affected large areas of the state has naturally increased demand for mice control products.

"People have until the end of September to claim mouse baiting rebates [up to $500 for households and up to $1000 for small businesses] through Service NSW, so we expect these heightened demands to continue," she said.

While mice numbers have stagnated during the winter months, CSIRO researchers, who have been monitoring mice numbers in Parkes, have forecast the plague could enter a second year if breeding increases in spring.

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"Farmers need to remain vigilant through the winter and look for mouse damage to crops e.g., chewed nodes and damaged heads," a CSIRO spokesperson said.

"Early springtime is a crucial period, as this is the when primary producers have the best opportunity to control mice before their numbers start to grow again."

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