1080 environmental saviour, says farmer

By RICHARD WOODD

A farmer who has won a farm environmental award says 1080 poison played a significant part in his success.

Ten years ago, Otaki deer farmer Errol Croad was an outspoken critic of 1080. He is now a strong advocate of its use to control possums and other feral animals that spread bovine tuberculosis.

"Politicians, environmentalists and people of influence in the media simply must stop talking about 1080 as a threat when it is in fact a saviour for the environment and much of the farming industry," he said.

Mr Croad and his wife, Adele, won the Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award and the Supreme Environment Award at last month's Farm Environmental Awards.

Their 200ha farm on the north bank of the Otaki River has the 36,000ha Tararua Forest Park on most of its boundary.

Twenty-eight years ago, when the Croads bought the property, there were no birds and the native bush gullies were being destroyed by possums.

"We could go out at night and shoot 100 possums."

Mr Croad began cyanide poisoning to keep the TB out of his deer, but when he discovered infected deer in the herd, he overcame his opposition to 1080.

"I'm passionate about deer and hunting and I was very apprehensive about allowing 1080 on the property, because of my indoctrination through the Deerstalkers' Association. I believed that it could kill everything.

"Now, eight years later, we've had two 1080 aerial drops and hand-poisoned all the fenced-off areas and bush gullies, and the results are incredible.

"We used to see one or two bellbirds and tui a year; now they're resident here all year, and I counted a flock of 21 wood pigeons a month ago.

"We did not lose any deer or birds to 1080. The aerial sowing is very accurate, with the use of lasers and global positioning systems.

"What happens is that 1080 kills the possums and rats, then the ferrets and wild cats eat the carcasses, becoming a by-kill.

"As a result, the bird population recovers and so does their habitat."

Mr Croad says the Regional Animal Health Area Committees, which monitor the spread of TB and regulate the use of 1080, spend a lot of time trying to counter the anti-1080 lobby.

"We waste time, energy and money having to appease these people by using poisons that are more dangerous to non-target animals, like cyanide and brodifacoum. The word 1080 has become an emotional trigger."

Mr Croad is chairman of the Deer Farmers' Association executive committee, a past member of the Deerstalkers' Association, a board member of the Game and Forest Foundation, a member of the Wellington Regional Animal Health Area Committee and member of the representatives committee of the Animal Health Board.