Sixty five per cent of NSW is in drought, 95 per cent of the State’s 5.18 million hectare winter crop is sown and swarms of Australian locusts may threaten some NSW winter crops in spring, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.

The amount of NSW in drought this month is up by 2.3%, with 20.9% marginal and only 14.1% of NSW satisfactory.

"If the drought isn’t challenging enough, it seems unfortunately our farmers could soon have another battle on their hands, with an emerging threat of locust plagues in Spring," Minister Macdonald said.

"Most of the locust action is expected in the central and south west of NSW, where the drought is biting its hardest, resulting in late sown crops struggling on minimal moisture.

"June was a horror month for the south western regions, where little rain fell. For example, Deniliquin received 10mm, Balranald 16mm, Temora 17mm and Hay 12mm.

"These are disappointing monthly rain measurements - ideally these cropping areas would have liked to receive in excess of 40mm to get the crop in and then another 40mm as follow up rains.

"Patchy falls resulted in some districts measuring solid falls like Coonamble with 41mm, Tamworth 80mm, Parkes 60mm, Quirindi 78mm, Singleton 72mm and Moree 38mm.

"Early sown crops on good moisture have grown well, but farmers are now desperate for solid falls following mild weather in most parts.

"The Iemma Government has committed more than $400 million in drought assistance measures and we’re determined to continue to support our farmers for as long as it takes."

Minister Macdonald said locust egg beds will hatch when spring arrives, so it will be critical that farmers report locusts and help authorities protect the State’s valuable winter crops.

"Already the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is aware of at least 900 properties where it suspects locusts egg beds may have been laid in autumn," he said.

"The NSW Government is preparing a war plan to combat any potential plagues, with the support of Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs).

"If landholders noticed any locust activity - even low density locust swarming, or egg beds, in autumn just gone - they should report this to their local RLPB as soon as possible."

Changes in drought status

New declarations (moved into drought)

• Hillston Eastern part of Board moved from marginal to drought (Whole of Board now drought)
• Mudgee-Merriwa Southern part of Division A moved from marginal to drought
• Narrabri Division B and part of Division A moved from marginal to drought
• Northern New England Eastern part of Division D moved from marginal to drought

Revocations (moved out of drought)

• Nil

Alterations (moved between marginal and satisfactory)

Declined (satisfactory to marginal)

• Hunter Part of Division D moved from satisfactory to marginal

Improved (marginal to satisfactory)

• Hunter Division B moved from marginal to satisfactory
• Wanaaring North eastern part of Board moved from marginal to satisfactory

Retrospective (alterations to previous declarations)

• Narrabri June 2008 - South western part of Division A moved from marginal to drought. Information became available after reporting occurred indicating Division A of Narrabri RLPB should have gone from marginal to drought in June 2008.

More information

• Current and historical drought maps
• Plague locast

Media contact: Lyndall Derrig 0400 462 447 or Trudy Glasgow 0427 217 354