Landholders on locust watch

27 August 2010
DAFF10/008D

Landholders across NSW, Victoria and South Australia are being urged to stay vigilant and be prepared for the start of Australian Plague Locust hatchings.

It is vital landholders continue to inspect their properties for signs of locusts and report them to the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC), their individual state locust hotlines, or, in NSW,  the Livestock Health and Pest Authority.

This information will help the APLC and state agencies to respond appropriately and assist landholders with their own control activities.

Landholders need to select and use only registered or permitted insecticides to ensure maximum impact on locust numbers while avoiding problems with residues in produce and livestock.

Rural communities can keep up to date on the current locust situation in their region by visiting the APLC’s website www.daff.gov.au/aplc

Specific media information and audio grabs are available on the APLC media page at http://www.daff.gov.au/aplc

The APLC has also established a Twitter page to alert followers to new information as it becomes available. Follow the APLC on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Locust_APLC

The APLC’s role is to manage locust populations in situations where they have the potential to inflict significant damage to agriculture in more than one member state.

Landholders can report locust activity such as hatchings and swarms to the APLC by phoning 1800 635 962.

Media inquiries: 02 6272 3232