NSW Farmers has warned a feral pig control pilot program for the Walgett region will not achieve coordination success with threats of hefty fines for farmers.
Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, announced the Walgett pilot program, which will include mandatory landholder participation, at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference last week.
The trial will combine baiting, trapping and aerial and ground shooting programs, and official biosecurity directions that compel every affected landholder to participate.
NSW Farmers president Rebecca Reardon.
NSW Farmers president Rebecca Reardon said local farmers are alarmed that the state government is adopting a ‘big stick’ approach rather than coordination with farmers.
“NSW Farmers has been pushing for greater coordination with landholders across a geographic area for the past few years,” Ms Reardon said.
“However, we are horrified that the government seems more interested in using the big stick with a compliance and fines approach rather than working with farmers. “
“Farmers are already doing much of the heavy lifting when it comes to feral pig control, so they are shocked that they are now being threatened with fines, especially when it is largely the public and absentee landholders that are not getting involved.”
“The challenge is coordinating everyone across the landscape to work together which requires cooperation and coordination.”
“This coordination approach, which has the potential to make a real difference, will not be achieved unless the coordinators work with farmers.”
Ms Reardon said NSW Farmers is seeking further detail on the pilot program, including when it will commence, what it will involve and how it will be funded.
“We will be ensuring the Walgett pilot will focus on working with farmers in controlling feral pigs now estimated to occupy up to 60 per cent of the state.”
“This new approach needs to be developed in collaboration with farmers to ensure that there is coordination and that funding is well targeted.”
Source: NSW Farmers
I am a registered firearm holder in southern NSW and an avid hunter going out most weekends hunting deer and pigs and would be willing to hunt pigs on properties where farmers are happy for help, I am a member of a well known hunting association with full insurance. I’m sure members of my club would love to help reducing pig numbers as this is why we hunt.
Another piece a beurocratic embugerance enforced upon our farmers by faceless people who have absolutely no experience in the role of those they claim to be “helping”
The NSW government needs to look at themselves. Feral pigs are causing more damage than brumbies in Kosiousko Natoonal Park, yet the NSW government seems to be spending the majority of their money and resources on shooting brumbies, not pigs.
the only thing that will bring them under control is a natural disaster [drought]pigs dont have to work all day to pay taxes they eat sleep and breed and breed and breed this country is massive to control them by hand is impossible
The feral pop has to be controlled now the the government should pay hunters to take them all out. Instead of threats government help is the key. Our bush and farms have suffered enough.
Typical Labor Government behavior…. cooperation is not in their vocabulary.
Sadly, this seems to be all Labor Governments operate – big stick, increased taxes and or charges. So much more could be achieved by working with all stakeholders in industry and not just targeting farmers. There are portions of Crown Land that host significant feral pig numbers so expecting farmers to comply “under threat” appears to be excessive and quite one-sided
An old mate lives on a farm up near Narrabri and his property backs on to the national park. The wild pigs are ruining his property. After 1 or 2 shots the pigs are back in the park where they can’t be followed without approval. The numbers are getting higher by the day. How can you combat that and not be fined. What help is this government to the farmers with this attitude – idiotic lunacy running rampant.