89% of land managers reported problems due to feral animals in 2022, up from 85% in 2019. This is according to the 2022 Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) survey on pests and weeds, the third of its kind on a national scale.

In 2016, 2019, and 2022, ABARES conducted a comprehensive national survey on pest and weed management practices among agricultural land managers.

The survey delved into the experiences of land managers across diverse sectors, including broadacre, horticulture, dairy, and other livestock industries, representing 53 natural resource management regions across Australia.

The recently released survey report offers a summary of national results, covering topics such as the severity of pest animals and Weeds of National Significance (WoNS), the impacts of these pests, management activities, information sources, participation in local support networks, and changes observed between 2016, 2019, and 2022.

The shifts in pest animal and weed management practices between years are influenced by evolving agricultural practices, shifting perspectives, land use revolutions, the effectiveness of management strategies, and disaster events such as droughts, floods, and ecological plagues. All these factors have combined to influence the distribution, abundance, and consequences of pest animals and weeds and the level of management activity.

Some key findings

• Approximately 85% of land managers invested an average of $21,950 throughout the year in the management of pest and weed species and the average expenditure on pest management increased from 2016 to 2022.
• About 50% of land managers across all three surveys reported that the most common problem species/groups were foxes, rabbits/hares, rats or mice, and native animals and birds.
• 89% of land managers reported problems due to feral animals in 2022, up from 85% in 2019.
• Around 60% of land managers reported Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) problems on their property in the 2019 and 2022 surveys.
• The proportion of land managers reporting various impacts from pests and weeds varied greatly across years and between impacts.
• The most reported weed impact was a decrease in the value of production. The proportion of land managers reporting this impact has remained about the same in 2022 as in 2019, after a substantial drop from 2016 (72% in 2016, 51% in 2019, and 52% in 2022).
• More than 80% of land managers are actively managing weeds on their properties.
• The application of herbicides continues to be the most common weed management activity, used by about 90% of land managers who manage weeds, and it continues to be an effective management option, rated as very or moderately effective by more than 90% of land managers using the method.
• In 2022, 50% of land managers reported that pest animal management activities were being undertaken in their local area by an agency or group, similar to 2019 (52%). These are lower proportions reported compared to 65% in 2016.

To read the full report click here.

These surveys have revealed that the challenges posed by pest animals and Weeds of National Significance remain a significantly increasing concern for land managers and that the level of support required by land managers to combat and control pests and weeds is rising.

Sources: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Media release “Pests and weeds on the rise”; https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/social-sciences/pest-animals-weed-management-survey#management-groups-activities-and-programs.