To stay sustainable and competitive, Michael Collins and Sam Shacklock, first-generation farmers in Flowerdale, Victoria, faced an uphill battle. They experienced the catastrophic loss of at least 80 percent of their winter crops due to a recent invasion of feral deer. On each of the three nights, these animals fearlessly escaped state government-controlled parkland. They swarmed through the couple’s bio-intensive, small scale market garden, raiding the paddocks of many marketable veggie treasures, including their prized cabbages. Using their expertise in cost-effectiveness, the financial impact of this annihilation is estimated at a whopping $100,000.
The couple, committed to the principles of sustainable farming practices, now deals with the fallout from this unfortunate incident. Collins told us he felt despair at the enormous expense required to maintain productivity on the land. He detailed the costs associated with each, such as fertiliser, seedlings and the cost for having workers to keep weeds managed.
“Not only is there the fertiliser bill, the seedling bill, there’s the labour to keep it weeded,” – Michael Collins
The Scale of the Damage
Collins spoke hauntingly about the destruction. Almost from the start, he underscored that one of the most productive areas of their farm was now dry and nearing failure. He’d had high hopes that that very crop would be ready in only four weeks! Instead, the experience has left him with a sense of unimaginable loss and what ifs.
“It’s only three nights that were unaccounted for and the damage [the deer] did in the cabbage was just enormous,” – Michael Collins
To the couple’s misfortune, more than a million plagues deer across Victoria. This presents major hurdles for private farmers whose lands border public lands. Collins underscored the alarming rate at which the deer population has exploded. He was insistent that solving this problem needs to include more than just single farmers.
“It’s just not managed. The deer population is through the roof, and it’s not necessarily my responsibility to manage the deer population,” – Michael Collins
Efforts to Combat the Problem
To better respond to the crisis, Collins purchased more than $25,000 of fencing tools and materials. In response, they built higher walls to protect their farms from further incursions. Even with all these efforts, he’s still not convinced that his solution smells like success.
“I broke the bank on three-metre-high posts, but it may not be enough,” – Michael Collins
The couple continues to face a daunting recovery period, expecting to deal with the repercussions of this incident for at least the next 12 months. Collins has reached out to the Victorian government for a response on what support or intervention they might provide. To date, there has been no reply.
…for the state to continue to manage their populations without sufficient state funding and support .
“I think there is a massive state government failing in this, and there is piss-all funding or support for it,” – Michael Collins
Collins and Shacklock are committed to bring their produce farm back after this blow. They aren’t against wildlife management, they are hopeful for something better that will protect their livelihoods and those of other local farmers.
