NSW Farmers’ branches across the north-west are gearing up for a series of meetings to discuss how they will tackle issues such as connectivity and feral animals in the region.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the state’s peak farm body will host a series of 12 meetings across the state’s north-west – including Moree, Garah, Weemelah, North Star and Croppa Creek – from March 17–26, with further meetings to be held across the district in the coming months.
With a broad range of agricultural issues on the agenda, Mr Martin said members are encouraged to bring their concerns and solutions to a meeting in their local area.
“From renewable energy and water to rural crime, connectivity, coal seam gas and feral pigs, farmers in the northwest are facing significant challenges to their farming operations on many fronts,” Mr Martin said.
“It’s brilliant to see our branches come together to workshop solutions to these challenges that can be put forward as motions to our Annual Conference and ultimately, serve to drive our policy and advocacy for farmers across the state and nation.
“All of our advocacy wins – be it independent Biosecurity and Agriculture Commissioners, or more money for feral pig control – started at the grassroots with motions from local Branches, so your say matters, and we want to hear your thoughts on how we build a stronger farming future.”
Meanwhile, Farmers have called for more funding to get feral pests under control as a new report finds New South Wales has the highest number of feral mammal species in the nation.
NSW Farmers’ Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chair Bronwyn Petrie said the data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics had come as no surprise to farmers battling a surging number of pests across the state.
“It’s little wonder we’re the feral capital of Australia – we’ve got hordes of feral pigs and packs of wild dogs as well as feral deer, foxes, cats, rabbits and mice to boot,” Mrs Petrie said.
“This is just the start of a long list of feral species that farmers are battling to control as these pests wreak havoc and harm production across the key agricultural regions of our state, trashing crops and pastures and even killing livestock.”
More funding to deliver coordinated, long-term, cross-tenure pest control programs around the state would be critical to get NSW’s pest problems under control, Mrs Petrie said, with animal pests expected to cause damages in excess of $489 million annually by 2026.
“This destructive front of feral species are not only putting a chokehold on food and fibre production, but the costs to control them are huge, and farmers can’t fix the problem alone,” Mrs Petrie said.
“The number of feral species has been growing since 2010, and no doubt there will be more feral animal species in increasing numbers to come.
“Consistent, coordinated funding for feral animal control is what our state needs if we want to get these pests under control for the benefit of our landscapes, environment, biosecurity and biodiversity – four things critical to our future.”
For more information about times and venues for meetings across the north-west, contact NSW Farmers’ regional services officer Michael Collins at collinsm@nswfarmers.org.au.
Event dates
17 March – Gunnedah/Tambar Springs
17 March – Tamworth
18 March ‒ Coolah
18 March ‒ Premer
19 March ‒ Moree
19 March ‒ Inverell
20 March ‒ Garah-Weemelah
20 March ‒ Walgett
21 March ‒ North Star-Croppa Creek
21 March ‒ Bingara
