Moderator Launches Flood Appeal

The recent wet weather events and ensuing floods have caused great economic and emotional damage to rural NSW.
One of the responses made by the Uniting Church in recent days is to launch an appeal to assist people affected by the wet weather and floods.
Rev Niall Reid Moderator of the NSW UCA Synod launched the appeal calling on the generosity of those who might assist.
For more information the link is http://www.insights.uca.org.au/news/2010/flood-appeal-10-12-2010.htm

Kel Hodge

Situation Update 23.11.10

Situation update from Industry and Investment

We have now received 4,516 reports of locust activity, including nine reports of swarms. The majority of adult reports are of low density swarms with one high density swarm reported to date.

With harvest underway in north, central and southern regions, we are receiving sporadic reports of locust nymphs in the understory of harvested crops. This is a reminder to get back into paddocks once crops are off and re-check for any locust activity.

To date, we have not had any reports of crop damage or reports of significant grain contamination.

Situation update 19.10.10

Total confirmed hatchings are now at 1,675. Activity continues to increase across most affected areas. 

Heavy rain and cooler weather has hampered control and surveillance activities, particularly in the North West and South West of the State. Despite the poor weather conditions, limited aerial spraying was undertaken around Nyngan, Walgett and Carinda yesterday and over the weekend. Aerial surveillance is also taking place today in and around Bourke and Brewarrina.

To date, some 70,000 hectares has been treated from the air and more than 7.2 million hectares of potential hatching areas have been surveyed from the air.  
Big wet does little to slow locusts
While flooding and heavy rain has hampered control efforts, it will have little impact on the locust population and impending outbreak, according to NSW Deputy Locust Commissioner, Simon Oliver.

“Previous campaigns show us that floods and heavy rain does little to affect locust numbers, and only delays their development until conditions improve,” Mr Oliver said.

“For the flood-affected areas of South West NSW, where hatchings are yet to peak, locust egg beds will be largely unaffected.

“Locust egg beds can withstand extreme weather conditions and will remain dormant until suitable conditions return for hatching and development.

“Despite the rain, landholders are being reminded to remain vigilant and continue checking pastures and crops for locust activity,” Mr Oliver said.

Seems to be under control at Nyngan

There has been such a good surveillance of the locust hatching areas within the area, that I believe things are really well in hand under the present arrangements between the authorities." Ray, Nyngan

Update on hatching and banding 12th Oct

As we move closer to projected peak hatching dates for many parts of the Lachlan and Riverina, we’ve seen a further doubling in locust reports this week. . Total confirmed hatchings are now at 1,190.
Strong winds hampered much of the planned aerial operations over the weekend. Despite poor weather conditions, limited spraying took place in Nyngan, Walgett and Bourke.

Aerial surveillance has also commenced out of the Lachlan LHPA, targeting areas in and around Tottenham, South of Nyngan and Condobolin. Post-control monitoring is also taking place to confirm the effectiveness of both on-ground and aerial control measures. Initial results are promising and show control measures are working well to date.

A rain front predicted for much of the State is likely to further limit aerial operations later this week.

Hatchings now increasing exponentially

Situation report from NSW Locust control

The number of hatching reports has doubled over the past week, taking total confirmed hatchings to 253. Significant locust activity continues in the Central West and Darling areas, particularly around current hot spots of Bourke, Brewarrina, Carinda and Nyngan.

Hatchings have begun in Hume and Mid-Coast LHPAs. The Lachlan area has also reported further locust hatchings, including in and around Grenfell and Eugowra.

Extensive air surveillance operations began last week and is continuing this week. Targeting areas in and around Walgett, Bourke, and Brewarrina and further south to Carinda and Nyngan, the surveillance identified around 1,000 locust bands. This included major bands stretching up to three kilometres found near Carinda.

Given the scale and size of these bands – and given it is beyond farmers’ ground control capacity – aerial spraying operations are being deployed this week. The spraying will commence out of Bourke and Carinda and will target the major bands which were identified through the earlier surveillance exercise. In total, approximately 700 square kilometres of locust bands will be sprayed

Hatchings still going slowly thankfully

Warmer weather over the last week has led to increased hatching activity across a number of areas. Further reports, particularly in locust hot spots such as Bourke and Brewarrina (Darling) and Nyngan (Central West), takes total confirmed hatchings to 51. The North West LHPA has also experienced increased locust hatchings over the past week.

A 600 metre long dense band of locust nymphs was also found on a property 30 km south of Carinda, in the state’s north west. The band, which was some four metres wide, consisted mainly of 2nd instar nymphs with a large number also still emerging from the eggbed.

Warmer temperatures predicted for much of the State this coming week point to a further jump in locust hatchings and general activity. Whilst it’s recognised that some farmers are still having trouble getting out onto wet paddocks

Not at Bunnaloo yet

Over the past two days my parents have found large bands of them on their land. They are spraying today. They were located beside their wheat crops in Chinkapook and Pier Millen, Victoria. The crops in our area (Bunnaloo) look magnificent. It will be such a shame if the locusts get to eat it all!!

Fleur

Rain delays hatchings

Julie:
The good rains in the last week have delayed the hatchings but still 19 were reported last week. The ground is so wet at the moment that it's difficult for people to get out and see what is happening. So far the following hatchings have been reported.

o   Central West = 8

o   Darling = 10

o   Lachlan = 1

o   North West = 1

o   Riverina = 1

o   Western = 1

Locust info

I had a quick look at the 'locust info' link on this page, but it was all a bit technical for me. Can someone tell me in simple terms (ie easily understood by a city girl) how bad this plague is expected to be? Is it going to be better, worse or about the same as the big one a few years back (end of 2004 I think)?

Thanks, Jenni, Bathurst.

Tentative blessings

It's both flying (as I did today) and driving (as I do most of the time) around the New England, North West and Central West that I observe how wonderful the country looks - some locals say the best in four decades. At the same time, people all across the regiosn are holding their collective breath as to what might happen to the cereal crops. Blessed with rain, encouraged with the promise of a good spring, hoping with all these signs for a good harvest with reasonable prices...
I find it frustrating when news reports make it sound like the crop is in and the cheque has arrived. There are a few more steps to take yet and challenges to negotiate.

Simon from Hallsville

The crop's not in yet

The crops here are the best we've had in 10 years and remarkably the price also looks quite decent. It should put a fair amount of money into the local economy and smile on a lot of peoples faces. We haven't got the crop in yet and there are a number of issues mainly; grasshoppers, stripe rust and the lack of people to treat it, and everyone is hoping that the rain will stop at harvest. The county is looking magnificent.

Graham from Condobolin

We need to look out for each other

I'm hoping that people are out there looking as much as they can for the locust. We need to look after ourselves and others as we all go through this.

Marg from Tottenham

ah, the locusts

We are having such a wonderful season out here, blessed by rains just at the right time. Crops are stunning, livestock are fat and the only thing taking the shine off things is the threat of locusts. It's always there at the back of your mind, and while we all hope they won't be as bad as we're told, it is a worry. They were here in force in autumn, chewing away, and we saw them laying too. The authorities seem to have done as much planning as they can, but the fear is can we all cope? Let's hope that it works out. We all need this good year to put our faith back into farming.

Fiona, Hillston

Waiting

The waiting is the hardest - the time I have to wait to see what is going to happen seems to stretch on and on. I can go ahead and make plans but they could all go “pear shaped” if the locust are really bad. Others that I’ve spoken to are hoping that we continue to get copious amounts of rain to wash them all away.

Lisa from Bourke

First sightings at Nyngan

The first confirmed hatchings have been sighted at Nyngan this week.

To see hatching dates click here