The Locusts Are Coming
Australian farmers in northern Victoria are on alert for what could be the worst locust plague in more than five years.
Locusts have started hatching in central New South Wales, after large-scale egg laying occurred over summer and autumn.
Victoria's Plague Locust Commissioner, Doctor Andrew Tomkins, is expecting reports of locust hatchings in Victoria as soon as the weather warm up.
He says this season's plague could be worse than the one in 2004/2005 when some grain crops were destroyed by locusts.
"I would say give us three or four weeks and by that stage the bulk of their hatching will have occurred, and then we will have an idea of just how many sites the hatchings have turned up at," he said.
South-eastern Australia is predicted to have its worst locust plague in more than five years.
Locusts have started hatching in central New South Wales, after large-scale egg laying occurred over summer and autumn.
Victoria's Plague Locust Commissioner, Doctor Andrew Tomkins, is expecting reports of locust hatchings in Victoria as soon as the weather warm up.
He says this season's plague could be worse than the one in 2004/2005 when some grain crops were destroyed by locusts.
"I would say give us three or four weeks and by that stage the bulk of their hatching will have occurred, and then we will have an idea of just how many sites the hatchings have turned up at," he said.
South-eastern Australia is predicted to have its worst locust plague in more than five years.