According to an article in the most recent edition of farmers' publication "Lëtzebuerger Bauer", and later confirmed by Camille Schroeder, President of the Bauerenallianz (farmers' alliance), the damage caused by wild boar in 2019 surpasses that of previous years.
Schroeder said wild boar are large creatures, and the population is ever increasing.
The issue is particularly pressing in 2019 as farmers have seen a decline in their crops, so losing what little they have to the wild animals is concerning for all.
As a result, farmers are harvesting their maize crops early to avoid any further damage. Schroeder explained this meant the harvest would only be a minimum of what it should be.
Many businesses cannot avoid purchasing maize, although it is expensive, costing around €1,500 to €1,600 per hectare - and that's without transport costs. For many farmers, the only solution is to get the wild boar population under control. Camille Schroeder was adamant it was not a case of eradicating wild boar completely, but pointed out that the creatures belong in the forest.
The "Lëtzebuerger Bauer" article said the damage was less severe in the north of the country, as there are more hunters in the villages there. Farmers who hunt the boar themselves have experienced better results.
Overall, in places where hunters keep the boar population under control, the damage is limited compared to areas with less stringent hunting. Schroeder reiterated it was important for hunters to pay attention to the areas covered in order to reduce the wild boar spreading, as they cover several kilometres a day.
The most damage occurred in the centre of the Grand Duchy and around the Moselle. Schroeder could not see an alternative to hunting to tackle the issue.
