Locust Spraying Ends Across SA

In Australasia, News Headlines

Aerial spraying of locusts across South Australia has officially ended.

A control centre at Loxton in the Riverland has now closed after another at Orroroo was closed at the end of last week.

Incident controller Michael McManus said there may still be some flying adult locusts in some areas, but the control program was considered a success.

“The locust populations have been significantly reduced,” he said.

“Of course it’s always been a control program, not eradication, so we haven’t completely eradicated all the locusts but on the broader scale we’ve been very effective in reducing the locust numbers.”

Not everyone has enjoyed the benefits of the spraying.

Ian Farley, a cereal farmer from Jabuk in the Mallee, said locusts destroyed 150 acres of his crop this week.

“I’ve got a paddock of wheat, which is regrown hay stubble, beautiful and green, we’re gonna put lambs on it, and I went out and had a look at that on Tuesday morning, I came back Tuesday night and it’s gone, they’ve eaten the lot and there’s millions of them. I’ve never seen it like it,” he said.

“I’m driving to Murray Bridge today and there’s quite a lot on the Mallee Highway, hitting the windscreen I’d say 200-300 every few metres.”

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