Farmers across East Gippsland and eastern Victoria are facing escalating costs and mounting pressure as pest animal populations surge, prompting calls for urgent, coordinated government action.
The Agricultural Sector Advisory Committee (ASAC) is urging state and federal governments to step up investment and coordination, warning that unmanaged populations of deer, feral pigs, and wild dogs and dingoes are placing unsustainable strain on farming businesses and regional communities.
ASAC acknowledged the recent Victorian Government funding announcement for wild pig management as a positive step in addressing pest animal impacts across the region and looks forward to further support that delivers tangible outcomes for the sector. However, it says sustained, long-term and coordinated investment is still required to match the scale of the issue.
Farmers across the region are reporting ongoing livestock losses, pasture damage and rising control costs, with some experiencing weekly stock losses or considering leaving the industry altogether. These impacts are threatening agricultural productivity, food security and the long-term viability of farming enterprises.
Evidence presented through ASAC indicates that in some areas, producers are experiencing weekly stock losses, abandoning enterprises or facing unsustainable grazing pressure due to unmanaged deer populations.
ASAC is elevating these first-hand accounts to ensure the lived experiences of farming communities are reflected in state and national policy settings, highlighting critical gaps in monitoring, population control, cross-border coordination and long-term investment.
ASAC member Eddie Mauger said the situation was reaching a tipping point.
"Farmers are exhausted, financially burdened and facing daily uncertainty," Mr Mauger said.
"Pest animals are not a fringe issue - they are undermining food production, threatening regional jobs and impacting the mental health of entire communities. Government action needs to match the scale of the problem."
ASAC is calling for:
- Stronger cross-tenure and cross-border coordination with New South Wales
- Long-term, strategic funding aligned with population growth rates
- Effective tools for wild dog control, including the reinstatement or replacement of previously successful programs
- Expanded feral pig surveillance and control to prevent further spread
- Modernised monitoring systems shared across agencies and communities
- Recognition of the social and mental health impacts on farming families
Landholders across East Gippsland say current programs remain fragmented and under-resourced, despite the availability of proven technologies and successful models in other regions.
Case studies collected through ASAC highlight recurring losses of lambs, calves and working dogs, along with costs running into the thousands of dollars for pasture damage and fencing repairs. These ongoing challenges are placing significant strain on farming families and, in some cases, prompting producers to consider leaving the industry.
ASAC emphasises that farmers are not seeking special treatment - they are seeking practical, timely support to protect their businesses, contribute to Australia's food supply and sustain the economic strength of regional Victoria.
"Government has the opportunity right now to partner with us and deliver meaningful, evidence-based action," Mr Mauger said.
"Our communities are ready to work with all levels of government, but we need policy certainty, adequate resourcing and a coordinated, whole-of-landscape approach."
