ORGANIC landholders in the Far North of SA have had assistance in managing their wild dog problem, without impacting their market access.
A series of federal government-funded workshops were held in recent weeks, through the National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants, to help these producers.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and SA Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the baiting workshops were the first of their kind to be held in Australia.
Mr Littleproud said there were 38 participants, representing 18 properties across 4 million hectares.
"This is a fantastic response to a serious problem that costs our agriculture sector a conservative $89 million a year in stock losses," he said.
"The latest data suggests that on average, property owners and operators spend $5176 and around 44 days per year on wild dog management, including contractors."
He said the importance of this issue was why the federal and state governments were combining with industry for a combined $25m commitment to rebuild the Dog Fence, on top of support for best practice control measures.
"This $44,680 Smart Farms investment represents tremendous bang for Australian government buck, with workshops to help producers improve pastoral productivity by reducing attacks on livestock while maintaining access to premium organic markets," he said.
Mr Basham said the workshops were delivered by PIRSA with support from organic certifiers and the South Australian Arid Lands Landscape Board.
"Wild dogs are progressively invading SA's sheep zone and pose a serious threat to the state's $1.5 billion sheep meat and wool industries," he said.
"We all have a role to play in reducing this threat and in the past some organic properties haven't baited because the practice has been at odds with certification requirements or land managers have not felt there was enough benefit.
"Through these workshops we are supporting organic producers with access to the latest knowledge to effectively carry out wild dog control measures while remaining compliant with the Australian and United States' departments of agriculture organic certification programs.
"Organic guidelines for baiting wild dogs presented at the workshops were developed in consultation with the organic industry and aligned with the National Wild Dog Action Plan."
Workshops were held on Nonning Station in the Gawler Ranges, Anna Creek Station near William Creek and Mundowndna Station near Marree.
"They demonstrated fencing standards and options, how to tether baits, use canid pest ejectors, drying racks protect birdlife, bait monitoring, signage requirements and safe bait transport and storage," Mr Basham said.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
