Stuff the turkeys, dingoes need a break GOBBLING GOBBLERS: Brush turkeys have become the blight of Trevor Venning's life at his Verrierdale farm in the Noosa hinterland. BRUSH turkey numbers have exploded on the Sunshine Coast and the State Government's dingo baiting program is the problem, say farmers. Small crop and banana farmers say turkeys are stripping crops and they want the Government to reduce dingo baiting to allow wildlife balance to be restored. Tewantin resident Marie-Louise Sarjeant said baiting was conducted in the Noosa hinterland last year under a policy introduced by Primary Industries Minister John McVeigh in response to grazier complaints about dingoes. "My husband works at the Eumundi markets and farmers say they have virtually nothing left because of the brush turkeys," she said. People are so distressed. One woman said she had nothing left ... and that means her income's gone. Dingoes used to keep turkeys dow. Verrierdale banana, lychee and small crops farmer Trevor Venning said his 10ha banana patch had been stripped of fruit, forcing him to bulldoze the trees. Turkeys fly up and rip right through the bags. You have a good bunch and the next morning there's just a stalk left," he said. They don't mind eating green bananas and they dig suckers out too. Mr Venning said there had been many dingoes on his property until the past year. He said the dingoes were pure bred and not wild dogs, as the Government suggested. "I used to hear the dingoes call and I've seen them many times," he said. Now all I have is bloody turkeys. Hardest hit are Verrierdale, Eumundi, Belli, Cooroy, Pomona, Cooloolabin and Yandina. Worst hit crops are bananas, lettuce and beans. An Australian Banana Growers Council spokeswoman said Sunshine Coast growers had reported substantial damage. Mr McVeigh would not say if he would ease up on dingo baiting but said turkey numbers fell and rose according to weather conditions and food availability. He said if they were damaging crops, landholders should contact the Environment Department. Ms Sarjeant, who campaigns to save dingoes, said poisoning was cruel and dingoes were being blamed for what was often irresponsible dog ownership. Scientists also have complained about the extent of poisoning, linking it to a boom in feral cat numbers. Birds Queensland spokesman Mike West last year called on Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers to shoot or trap feral dogs, foxes, cats and brumbies at Inskip Point near Fraser Island to save vulnerable ground-dwelling birds such as black-breasted button-quail. Mr West said yesterday feral animals were still in the area but birds had disappeared.