Farmers in the Riverina region of New South Wales are grappling with a worsening rabbit crisis that is severely impacting their agricultural productivity. A local farmer, Peter O'Brien, has reported spending up to $100,000 annually on rabbit eradication efforts as the infestation grows. Despite the introduction of a calicivirus that initially reduced the rabbit population by about 60 percent, the remaining rabbits are developing resistance to this control measure, complicating eradication efforts.

The economic ramifications of this crisis are significant, with many farmers forced to abandon planting crops in heavily affected areas. For instance, O'Brien has not planted crops on certain paddocks for the past three years due to the extensive damage caused by the rabbits. He recalls the alarming sight of thousands of rabbits in his fields at night, a stark sign of the scale of the problem. The persistence of this issue highlights not only the challenges faced by individual farmers but also raises concerns about the broader agricultural landscape in the region.

In response to this ongoing problem, the Invasive Species Council of Australia is urging the federal government to invest in the development of new biocontrol measures to manage the rabbit population more effectively. The need for intervention underscores the pressing nature of the crisis as farmers continue to experience rising operational costs and diminishing yields, ultimately affecting food supply and farm viability in the region.