Farmers urged to help finish off locusts in State's south
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Farmers across the State’s south have been called on to repeat their efforts of last year and be vigilant in monitoring and reporting locust egg beds this spring.
NSW Plague Locust Commissioner, Graeme Eggleston, today applauded farmers’ efforts to date, and urged them to monitor their properties and report any suspected egg beds to their Rural Lands Protection Board.
“We do expect some locust activity in the south, mainly in the Hume and Riverina Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs),” Mr Eggleston said.
“We could also have some very patchy hatchings in the Murray and Wagga Wagga RLPBs.
“However, we are expecting a much more normal locust season – nothing like last spring.
“While hatchings in the southern districts are not expected until the last half of October, we need landholders to get in the practice of checking their properties often.
“This will help us map the location of any egg beds that haven’t yet been reported and help teams develop local attack plans for when those egg beds begin to hatch.
“In the State’s central and north-west regions no locust egg beds have been reported from landholders so we expect minimal activity there.
“This time last year locust activity had already started in those areas, but again we encourage farmers to check their properties regularly just to be safe.
“Farmers and authorities did a fantastic job last spring and autumn, and we need them to continue the effort to help eradicate any residual locust populations.
“The NSW Department of Primary Industries and RLPBs will have information on the approaching plague locust threat at this week’s Henty Machinery Field Days and several local information workshops have already been held alerting farmers to the locust threat.
“Landholders will have the opportunity to speak with NSW DPI and RLPB staff at the field days, and there will be plenty of information on locust control and monitoring for landholders to take home,” Mr Eggleston said.
Media Contact: Brett Fifield 02 6391 3311, 0427 029 511