NSW: Rains bring drought relief but locust threat

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2008
NSW: Rains bring drought relief but locust threat

SYDNEY, Dec 10 AAP - The drought has eased across parts of NSW but the rains have brought
renewed threat of a locust plague over summer, the state government says.

Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald, said drought declared areas of NSW had fallen
seven per cent to 55 per cent last month.

Wheat production has also improved, with the state expected to produce 6.45 million
tonnes of wheat this harvest, up on 2007's yield of 1.8 million tonnes.

"That's a significant improvement which will put a fair bit of income into farmers'
pockets after this long drought," Mr Macdonald told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

The biggest beneficiaries of improved rainfall had been the state's central west and
northern slopes and plains, but southern parts of NSW were still suffering.

"Farmers go into this Christmas in better shape than they did last year, with larger
amounts of crop actually coming forward to harvest as well as rains in a bit more of the
state," Mr Macdonald said.

"Unfortunately in the south this drought still continues and it doesn't look like ending
any time soon, which is a difficult thing for farmers to cope with."

However, the same rain that is boosting crops is also hampering locust spraying activities.

Mr Macdonald warned that locusts were still a serious challenge for farmers, with widespread
hatching over more than 130,000 hectares of land expected to peak between December 18
and the new year.

He said farmers must continue to be vigilant in monitoring their paddocks over the
festive season and report any signs of egg laying, new hatchings, congregating nymph bands
and mature swarms so they could be chemically treated.

"If too many unreported hatchings occur and they take wing we'll have a situation quite
disastrous, particularly by about spring next year after another generation of hatchings,"

Mr Macdonald said.

AAP bsb/wjf/maur

KEYWORD: DROUGHT NSW

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