New Zealand farmers report an increase in the number of pests on agricultural land

A two-year national study involved 660 members of the Federated Farmers organization. It was revealed that 90% of farms are actively engaged in pest control, having spent approximately 82 million dollars on these efforts last year. Nevertheless, two-thirds of those surveyed reported an increase in pest animal populations over the past five years. The most serious threats to the country’s agriculture are brushtail possums, deer, and wallabies. Additionally, in a number of regions, rats, Canada geese, wild pigs, and rabbits create significant problems. Richard Dawkins, chairman of the meat and wool industry committee, noted that active recreational hunting, which attracts 90% of farmers, does not allow for effective control of population numbers, which continue to grow. The types of pests depend on the type of farm. Thus, on sheep and livestock farms, deer, wild pigs, and goats are encountered more frequently, whereas dairy farms are characterized by the spread of Canada geese. Arable land tenants more often face infestations of rabbits, hares, and birds. The presence of pests entails a number of negative consequences: competition for pastures, damage to infrastructure (fences and gates), and the risk of transmitting dangerous diseases such as tuberculosis and leptospirosis. According to Richard Dawkins, the damage from diseases can be critical — one farmer reported a loss of 100,000 dollars due to an outbreak of leptospirosis among livestock. The total volume of production losses from pests across the country is estimated at 384 million dollars. Due to the pressure from wild animal populations, about 30% of farmers are forced to reduce their livestock herds. Farmers consider neighboring forest areas and state-owned lands to be the primary source of pest re-emergence on private property. In June, the government announced the allocation of 750,000 dollars for three pilot projects aimed at controlling wild deer on private lands in the Rangitikei, Wairarapa, and North Canterbury regions. At the same time, a number of experts and organizations insist on the necessity of adopting a comprehensive national strategy for deer population management.