Farmers have warned the march of a destructive cactus through NSW could be only the beginning of the state's weed woes unless ongoing funding for weed control is secured.
Harrisia cactus was imported as an ornamental plant into Australia from South America in the late 1800s. Like so many of our most noxious weeds, no thought was given to controlling its spread. Like a lot of things, harrisia poked along at a very low infestation rate for 100 years. Then it reached a critical mass in Queensland, on the northern Darling Downs and the southern end of Central Queensland, around 7 years ago, and since then has exploded causing a significant threat for the health and welfare of the land, animals, and farmers themselves.
NSW Farmers' Croppa Creek and North Star Branch Chair Richard Doyle said farmers in the north of the state have reported a drastic surge in harrisia cactus infestations as the destructive cactus continues to spread south from the Queensland border.
"This cactus has exploded due to recent good seasons," Mr Doyle said.
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