Feral pig numbers

Farmers are asking for more resources to combat an exponential rise in the number of highly destructive feral pigs, with fears for safety and property.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said millions of feral pigs were breeding and rampaging across the countryside, thriving after years of high rainfall, attacking native animals and livestock, and causing massive damage to crops and infrastructure.

The past three years had been a boom time for pigs, Mr Martin said, and while government control efforts had made a slight dent in the overall number of pigs in certain areas, there were too many reports of a booming breeding population to ignore.

“From the Western Riverina through the Central West and up into the Northern Tablelands, we’re hearing members tell us they’ve never seen pigs this bad before,” Mr Martin said.

“Aerial shooting over the past year saw 80 per cent more pigs culled than the year before, and authorities have to the reduction in the 2023 crop forecast, including variable seasonal conditions and weather events as well as cost rationalisation and prudent economic decision-making by growers.

“Kernel supply will also be impacted because an increased amount of crop is being sold to the nut-in-shell market.”

The crop forecast will be reviewed again in September and the fnal fgure for the 2023 Australian macadamia crop will be announced by the AMS in early December.

The 2023 crop is based on actual factory receipts of the Australian Macadamia Handlers Association (AMHA).

The AMHA represents 85% of the macadamia crop in Australia.

‘out of control’

than 63,000 feral pigs had been culled as part of co-ordinated aerial and on-ground shooting and baiting in the past 12 months, although Mr Martin said anecdotal reports from farmers meant the actual numbers were likely far higher. He said there were serious concerns about what would happen after June 30, when the state government’s additional pig control funding ended.

distributed 74 tonnes of baits to landholders, but the numbers continue to grow particularly on public land.

“It’s clear the pig numbers are growing out of control now, and we need a drastic and sustained increase in resources for everyone involved to get on top of the problem once and for all.”

According to Local Land Services, more

“Trying to keep the pig numbers down farm-byfarm is a bit like trying to put out half a fre – if you’re not tackling the whole problem methodically, it’ll just keep coming back,” Mr Martin said.