ABARES recently published two reports that provide new data and insights into the impact of invasive species on our agricultural communities. Both reports reveal the enormity of the task to manage established pest and weeds, reinforcing the message that prevention is certainly better than the cure.
The third national survey of pests and weeds is available on the ABARES website and shows that in 2022, 85% of land managers spent on average around $21,950 per property and also invested considerable time on pest and weed management. The survey found that 89% of land managers reported problems due to feral animals. The species reported as causing the most problems were foxes, rabbits, rats, and mice. Weeds that were reported as being new to a property included fireweed, feathertop, Rhodes grass, fleabane, African lovegrass, thistles, and giant rats tail grass.
The Environmental Biosecurity Office sponsored the second report released by ABARES. The Cost of established pest animals and weeds to Australian agricultural producers report digs deeper into the financial impacts of pest animals and weeds for farmers. Australian farmers are spending $3.8 billion a year to control vertebrate pests and weeds and are suffering production losses of $1.5 billion.
Australian Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, Dr Bertie Hennecke said that ‘combined with previous surveys we now have data that spans 6 years to assist us in identifying trends in relation to the impact of invasive species’. He confirmed that his office is now considering how this data can inform the department’s established pest and weed policy settings.
