agriculture impact
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Currently, the agriculture and food industry in Australia is no longer strongly affected by feral rabbits as the control measures taken by the Government have prevented another rabbit outbreak in the future.
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Australia is an arid country and despite its size, it is not suitable agriculture. What fertile soil the continent has is now threatened by the feral rabbit. Excessive grazing by the rabbit has diminished vegetative cover, allowing wind to erode away top soil. Soil erosion affects re-vegetation and water absorption. Land with limited top soil can also lead to agricultural run-off and increased salinity. The livestock industry in Australia has also been widely affected by the rabbit. As food yields decrease, so does the cattle and sheep population. To compensate, many farmers extend their livestock range and diet, farming a wider expanse of the land and thus further contributing to the problem. The agricultural industry in Australia has lost billions of dollars from the direct and indirect effects of the rabbit infestation.
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"Rabbits are Australia's most costly vertebrate pest animal, causing more than $200 million in agricultural production losses each year. Less than one rabbit per hectare can prevent the successful regeneration of native vegetation which is vital for biodiversity and farm productivity."