WITH farmers across the region heading for a bumper crop this season, one of the biggest concerns at present is locusts.
It has been revealed New South Wales could be headed for the worst locust plague in 30 years.
The Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) reports that in autumn this year a major nymph
infestation, with many hopper bands, developed across the state as a result of continued widespread heavy rain and favourable conditions.
It is expected that the eggs laid in mid April in Cootamundra and the surrounding district will hatch by the middle of October.
Farmers then have a window of between two and three weeks before locusts start banding when they can attempt to control the outbreak.
Cootamundra Industry and Investment
agronomist Phil Bowden said hatchings have been confirmed west of Cootamundra, around Forbes and Parkes.
He said some of the most susceptible areas to locust infestations around Cootamundra are Stockinbingal, Dirnaseer and Bethungra.
With most farming properties in Cootamundra closely monitored by landholders, Mr Bowden said the potential for locust eggs to go unnoticed
diminishes greatly, meaning Cootamundra often escapes the worst of the outbreaks.
“This is not to say that landholders should not
continue to be vigilant,” Mr Bowden cautions.
He said hilly or forested areas such as the Bethungra hills make ideal laying grounds for locusts as it is harder for landholders to keep an eye on these places.
With eggs already laid, it is not expected that current conditions will have any effect on the potential locust plague.
Once they hatch, prevailing winds have a major impact on where locusts end up.
Mr Bowden said even if Cootamundra district farmers are extremely vigilant and there is not a major outbreak locally, if farmers in other parts of the state do not notice locust eggs and the pests are given the opportunity to grow and take to the wing they may be blown into the local region.
Being grasshoppers, a plague of locusts will initially focus their attention on green or grass areas. This can leave some crops such as wheat susceptible in their early stages, however it is expected that by the time Cootamundra faces a locust problem crops will no longer be green.
Mr Bowden said of concern to farmers is the fact locusts can tip the head off crops, affecting yields.
While it is not their dietary mainstay, if their primary food source of grass declines, locusts may focus their attention on other crops such as canola, barley and oats.
LHPA ranger Trent Fordham said the potential for the locust situation to explode is currently unknown.
He said there have been about 20 reports on all sides of Cootamundra regarding locust sightings and urged people to continue to report locust activity.
The importance of reporting locust sightings is for the LHPA to be able to accurately map locust activity and forecast future activity.
Locusts found on private property are the responsibility of the landholder, while shire councils look after locust beds found in public areas, such as the side of roads.
A series of locust information meetings are being held across the Hume LPHA district to assist local producers in preparing for the expected onslaught of locusts.
“To keep ahead of the upcoming plague, we are urging producers to be prepared to control locusts on their land via ground chemical application,” Mr Fordham said.
At the meetings LHPA rangers will provide information on expected hatching dates, what insecticides and equipment are available and the optimal time to apply chemical.
“Landholders will also be given very clear information about what they should be looking for on their properties so they can report any activity to their local LHPA,” Mr Fordham said.
Meetings will be held at the Illabo Showground on Wednesday, September 15 at 2pm and at the Cootamundra Country Club on Friday, September 24 at 10am.
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