Battle plans drawn for plague locust threat
31 July 2008
DAFF08/011D
Predictions of a potential plague locust outbreak this Spring in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales have Commonwealth and State government agencies planning control activities long before the first locust egg hatches.
Surveys completed in late autumn by staff of the Rural Lands Protection Boards and Department of Primary industries in New South Wales, Department of Primary Industries in Victoria and the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) identified significant adult locust activity in areas of the NSW Riverina and Central Northern Victoria throughout April.
APLC Director, Chris Adriaansen said the survey results along with reports from landholders, indicate that locust egg laying has taken place across the area.
“The result could be a significant hatching of plague locusts in October and early November which could add another threat to crops and pastures that have just survived on limited rainfall in these areas,” Mr Adriaansen said.
The APLC is working closely with the NSW and Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to plan effective control activities across the two states.
Dr Andrew Tomkins of Biosecurity Victoria said representatives from the three agencies met this week to discuss a coordinated action plan to combat the hatchings.
“By sitting down together with our response plans we’ve been able to determine that all agencies are well prepared for the upcoming locust season, regardless of on which side of the border the threat occurs” he said.
The cross-border plague locust outbreak response could see the three agencies simultaneously involved in aerial surveillance, coordination of ground-based control and aerial application of locust control agents.
Despite the planning being undertaken by the government agencies, individual landholders also have an important role in responding to the locust threat.
Mr Graeme Eggleston of NSW DPI said the most successful response to plague locust outbreaks starts with landholder action.
“For our agencies to effectively plan for and respond to this threat, landholders need to do on-the-ground locust control and report any locust egg laying activity”.
Preparations for the upcoming locust season extend beyond strategic response plans by the three government agencies.
“APLC will be holding its regular pre-season operational planning meeting in September in the Southern Riverina. This will give us the opportunity to reinforce our action plans with the people who will be involved in local operations,” Mr Adriaansen said.
APLC and the state agencies have also scheduled meetings with relevant environmental agencies to ensure that dealing with the locust threat also addresses the need for protection of environmentally-sensitive areas. Habitat areas of endangered birds and mammals are being mapped so that extensive use can be made of the Metarhizium fungus, a biological control agent which specifically affects locust species.
“As a consequence of the research program funded by the Australian and state governments, APLC has worked extensively to develop controls which minimise environmental impact and the risks to crops and livestock,” Mr Adriaansen said.
The benefits of coordinated locust control to Australia’s agricultural and trade position have been clearly demonstrated in recent reviews of the APLC. An external review completed in 2007 showed Australian agriculture avoided losses of up to $22 for every $1 spent on locust control.
Information for landholders, and further information about locusts and control activities is available on the APLC website www.daff.gov.au/aplc
Media contact: Mr Chris Adriaansen – phone: DAFF Media +61 2 6272 3232