Little change in drought, locusts next front
From the August 2008 edition of Agriculture Today.
Official drought figures for NSW changed very little in the past month.
A fraction more of the State is in drought, a fraction more is satisfactory, with slight shrinkage in the marginal area.
Sixty five per cent of NSW is in drought, 20.9pc marginal and only 14.1pc of NSW satisfactory.
If the continuing conditions aren’t still challenging enough, it’s expected our farmers could soon have another battle on their hands.
There’s an emerging threat of locust plagues in spring.
Most of the locust action is expected in central and south west NSW, where the drought is biting hardest, where late sown crops are already struggling on minimal moisture.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is aware of at least 900 properties where it suspects locust egg beds may have been laid in autumn.
Farmers who noticed locust activity in autumn should report it to their Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) if they haven’t already done so.
This includes low density locust swarming activity, or egg beds.
Farmer of the Year
I have just announced the winners of the NSW Farmer of the Year and Young Farmer of the Year Competition.
Each year we have excellent entries - this year is no different.
The 2008 Farmer of the Year winner is Nigel Kerin, a wool producer from Yeoval.
Chris Mirams, who runs a mixed faming enterprise at Holbrook, and Kim and Steve Roberts, free range pork and salt bush lamb producers from Temora, were the other finalists.
Young Farmer of the Year winner is Tally Matthews, a vegetable and turf farmer from Ebenezer, and the finalist was Ben Watts, woolgrower from Molong.
Both these men are outstanding young farmers who are making significant contributions to their industries.
Congratulations to the winners and the finalists, and thanks to all those who helped make this year’s awards a success.
