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