Locust reporting vital with second wave imminent say RLPBs
With a second wave of locust hatchings imminent around Christmas, Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) are again urging farmers to step up surveillance and report all locust activity.
State Council of RLPBs Pest Animal and Insect Manager, Tim Seears, said weather conditions were making it difficult to predict exactly when to expect the next generation of locusts over summer but they were likely to emerge from the same areas as they did in spring.
“Wherever swarms have been in the last few weeks or so is where we are expecting to receive reports of new egg beds.
“These are likely to be in the Wagga Wagga, Murray, Riverina, Narrandera, Condobolin, Hume, Forbes, Young and Gundagai board districts and possibly in surrounding areas as well.
“It’s vital RLPBs are made aware of all new locust activity and egg bed locations for planning and forecasting activities and to ensure enough chemical is on hand to treat locusts when they begin banding.
“The lack of large high-density swarms across the state demonstrates just how much effort landholders have put in to controlling the first generation of locusts and we hope this will continue.
“I appreciate farmers are very busy with harvests at the moment and there has been a lull in locust activity but please remain vigilant and continue to regularly monitor your properties and report sightings no matter how small to your local RLPB.
Tim Seears added that changes to the RLPB system being introduced next year would not affect locust operations, assistance and reporting.
“From 1 January 2009 RLPBs will be renamed Livestock Health and Pest Authorities as part of major reforms to modernise and streamline the organisation.
Although 47 boards will be consolidated into 14, all local offices in existing RLPB districts will remain open and there will be no reduction in numbers of local field staff involved in animal health and locust work.
All phone numbers and office addresses will remain the same and staff will be available to record landholder reports and assist with locust work over the holiday period.
Report all locust activity including egg beds, hatchings, banding and swarming to your local RLPB, which from 1 January 2009 will be your local Livestock Health and Pest Authority.
Livestock Health and Pest Authorities will continue working with the Department of Primary Industries and NSW Farmers in 2009 to minimise the impact of locusts across the state.