Farmers wary of new locust outbreak, despite forecast El Niño

Locusts are everywhere in paddocks across South Australia's Riverland. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters) The Department of Primary Industries and Regions has finished surveying a potential locust outbreak in South Australia's Riverland region, after swarms were reported in late April. It has been more than 15 years since South Australia's last outbreak, which cost the state government more than $12 million in 2010. Experts say it is impossible to know until spring if there will be an outbreak, but there is optimism El Niño weather conditions will keep numbers manageable. Link copiedShareShare articleA locust outbreak in South Australia later this year has been described as "unlikely" by experts, but it has not been ruled out. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is forecasting an El Niño event, which could bring hotter and drier conditions over the winter months. Australian plague locust commissioner Bertie Hennecke said the timing of the season meant an outbreak was "unlikely". Bertie Hennecke says the commission relies on community reporting. (Supplied: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Swarms of locusts made their way to South Australia's Riverland region from western New South Wales at the end of April as part of a migration event. Dr Hennecke said events such as the one in late April were "not uncommon", particularly given heavy rain across the Riverland after long stretches of dry weather. "The population will start building up and trying to lay eggs in spring when the locust season begins," Dr Hennecke said. In many paddocks in South Australia's Riverland, you cannot take a step without swarms of locusts hopping around. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters) "Locust eggs need soil moisture to survive. So, if the soil is drying out, then it's unlikely to result in an outbreak." The swarms have spurred the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) into action. Teams recently surveyed locusts in the Riverland for the first time since 2010. Michael McManus says there are several high-density swarms in the Riverland. (ABC News: Marco Catalano) "The numbers we've seen so far aren't too suggestive of a major risk," PIRSA plague locust commissioner Michael McManus said. PIRSA is also keeping an eye on other parts of regional South Australia, where good breeding conditions in the Mid North and southern Flinders could lead to an outbreak. "It's quite unusual that we get significant populations of locusts in the Riverland," Mr McManus said. "We do get them in the southern Flinders and Mid North region more regularly. "There's plenty of green feed in those areas this season, so if locusts lay their eggs there, we could have a problem in spring." Those in the Mid North, Riverland and Flinders will be desperate to avoid a repeat of 2010. Dead locusts clog up the grill of a car on a highway between Murray Bridge and Mildura in 2010. (Supplied: Tom Klein) That outbreak decimated crops, left car bumpers unrecognisable and cost the South Australian government more than $12 million. Riverland farmer Andrew Biele can remember how devastating the last outbreak was, but does not expect a repeat this time around. "The number of locusts that were flying in was nothing like what we're seeing now," he said. Andrew Biele says he does not expect the swarms to result in an outbreak. (ABC Riverland: Jackson Byrne) If the swarms do develop into an outbreak, Mr Biele said he was confident the PIRSA would be better equipped to deal with it. "For us as landholders, we did learn from 2010, and PIRSA is right onto it straight away this time," Mr Biele said. Dr Hennecke said while it was good to be prepared, locust migration events had to be expected from time to time. At first glance it is hard to see any locusts across the Riverland, but a few steps into a paddock and they begin to swarm. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters) "We had a similar situation about two years ago, but the rainfall and the healthy vegetation disappeared over winter and that caused the population to collapse," he said. Even with years of experience, experts and farmers agree there is no way to know for certain whether an outbreak will occur this spring. "At this stage, it's a waiting game," Mr McManus said. "Once we have some more data, we can find out whether or not an outbreak will occur," Dr Hennecke said. Andrew Biele has high hopes for this year's harvest. (ABC Riverland: Jackson Byrne) Back on the farm, Mr Biele is approaching this year's season with a positive mindset, despite the swarms. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top Stories'Like paradise': Women and children with IS-links excited to return to AustraliaTopic:Defence and National Security

Farmers wary of new locust outbreak, despite forecast El Niño

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