Tasmania Backs Farmer Assist to Help Landholders Tackle Growing Deer Problem

The Tasmanian Government has officially announced a partnership with Farmer Assist, providing support to expand the program across Tasmania as landholders continue to face increasing pressure from wild deer and other pest animals.

Announced yesterday by Tasmania’s Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Gavin Pearce, the partnership includes $30,000 in funding to help strengthen the Farmer Assist program in Tasmania and improve connections between landholders and accredited SSAA conservation volunteers.

The announcement represents an important step forward for practical, community-driven pest animal management in Tasmania.

A Practical Tool for Farmers

Farmer Assist was developed to provide landholders with a simple and structured way to connect with verified, insured SSAA members willing to assist with pest animal management activities on rural properties.

The program allows farmers to:

• Register their property at no cost
• Post requests for assistance
• Review volunteer applications
• Choose who they wish to allow onto their property
• Maintain full control over access and arrangements

Tasmanian landholders are increasingly reporting damage caused by expanding wild deer populations, along with ongoing issues from wallabies, rabbits, possums and other pest species. The Government’s decision to support Farmer Assist acknowledges that recreational hunters can play an important role as part of a broader pest management approach.

Minister Pearce described the initiative as a “sensible, low-cost” program that helps hunters and landholders work together to reduce the impacts of deer on farms and rural properties.

Building on an Established Program

Farmer Assist is not a new concept in Tasmania. The program has operated in various forms for years and has already assisted landholders across multiple Australian states.

However, the latest partnership significantly strengthens the program’s profile and support within Tasmania, particularly as browsing pressure and wild deer impacts continue to grow across agricultural areas.

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman also welcomed the initiative, noting that browsing wildlife species are among the biggest issues currently facing many Tasmanian farmers.

Importantly, Farmer Assist is designed to complement — not replace — other management strategies. It provides an additional pathway for landholders seeking practical assistance from trained volunteers already willing to contribute their time and skills.

Verified Volunteers and Accountability

One of the key strengths of Farmer Assist is its structured and accountable process.

Participating SSAA members must:

• Hold current SSAA membership
• Complete a shooting competency assessment
• Follow strict program rules and a code of practice
• Adhere to animal welfare and legal requirements
• Operate under SSAA insurance coverage

The program is also linked with the SSAA Activity Log, allowing volunteer efforts and pest animal management activities to be recorded and analysed. This creates opportunities to better demonstrate the contribution hunters make to agriculture, pest control and regional communities.

Supporting Tasmanian Landholders

Tasmania presents unique pest animal challenges, particularly in relation to wild deer and wallaby populations. Many landholders face ongoing pasture losses, fence damage, crop impacts and increasing management costs.

The strengthened Farmer Assist partnership aims to make it easier for farmers to access practical help while maintaining control over how assistance occurs on their property.

For SSAA members, the program also provides a structured pathway to contribute positively to conservation and rural communities while participating in ethical and accountable wildlife management activities.

As awareness grows and more landholders engage with the system, the partnership has the potential to become an important part of Tasmania’s broader pest management landscape.