A Coonamble farmer says he wants to see more support from the NSW government to combat feral pigs as the Local Land Services (LLS) releases the kill numbers for the past 12 months.
Despite estimates that the LLS has removed at least 53,000 of the pests across the state, there is widespread agreement that control efforts are not keeping pace with population growth.
Bill Mackay says farmers are increasingly out of pocket and the pests are still thriving in the district, especially in scrubland and areas with tree cover.
He wants the government help cover the cost of private helicopter shoots and ease restrictions for on-farm storage of 1080 poison.
Mr Mackay also wants LLS to escalate their approach to feral pigs from management to eradication.
“I don’t feel like enough is being done on the government level because, at the end of the day, the only time we ever see an actual reduction in numbers is if a whole bunch of landholders get together and organise a shoot,” said Mr MacKay, who runs a property 30 kilometres east of Coonamble.
“All that I’m seeing on the ground at our level around Coonamble is them offering poison and pig baiting grain.
“The cost of helicopters is about $1,300 an hour, plus ammunition, and that’s all funded privately.”
Farmers must lay 1080 within seven days of receiving the poison and require training before it can be used.
At the moment, LLS is also able to coordinate government-funded control efforts, advise and train landholders on pest management, and lend free trapping equipment for trial.
The LLS told the Times in early February that they have removed 240,000 over the last three years under the Feral Pig and Pest Program, although it’s difficult to know how effective those efforts are without reliable population estimates.
The National Feral Pig Action Plan says 70 per cent of the feral pig population need to be removed every year to prevent growth.
Female pigs can reach sexual maturity within six months of age and carry a litter of more than 12 piglets.
Favourable weather over recent years has also provided more food for them to breed in the region.
Another landowner east of Coonamble said pig populations have grown enormously in the last five years.
He said more farmers need to work with LLS to knock the numbers.
“We need government to coordinate wide-scale baiting and shooting programs, and I think we need greater cooperation from landholders,” said the landowner, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid enticing poachers onto his property.
“If not enough people are part of that process, yes we can get some fantastic results on individual properties, but they are going to be repopulated from neighbouring areas, and we’re just going to be chasing our tail the whole time.”
“And I think we need more landholders on board with baiting.”
It was a similar message from Dr Heather Channon, who was appointed as Australia’s first National Feral Pig Management Coordinator in 2020.
“Feral pig management really is about having the coordinated and collaborative effort, with landholders working together at a local level, communicating with one another, sharing information, having plans at the local level, but making sure that we’re focusing on methods that can remove populations of pigs effectively,” she said.
“That includes baiting and aerial shooting as a start and following that up with trapping and ground shooting as supplementary methods.”
The NSW government committed $14.3 million in the 2025-26 Budget for the LLS to deliver the Feral Pig and Pest Program.
The program is currently funded until June 2026.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said the 2026-27 Budget will need to go further.
“Five figure culls simply aren’t going to do the job when numbers are surging,” Mr Martin said.
“There’s no guarantee of funding for control programs past June 30.
“Previous investments have been helpful, but we need to see the state government commit to a long term, coordinated control strategy that doesn’t just draw on a variety of tactics, but delivers real results.
“It’s time for the Treasurer to come to the party this state budget season and get serious about feral pigs if we’re ever going to break the breeding cycle, for good.”
Shadow NSW agriculture minister Brendan Moylan said farmers are limited in what control methods they can use.
“Current control methods – such as aerial shooting, baiting, and trapping – are simply not keeping pace,” Mr Moylan said.
“Culling in the tens of thousands won’t make a dent when pig numbers are exploding.
“What is needed is increased funding and locally focused control programs.
“A one-size-fits-all approach across the state will not work.”