THE NSW Government has allocated $18.5 million to help farmers control their biggest locust plague in more than 30 years.
Premier Kristina Keneally said the funds would support the NSW plague locust emergency preparedness response plan.
Under the plan, the NSW Government will provide enough insecticide to cover half million hectares of locust affected land – five times the volume of chemical used in 2008-09.
The funding package also covers 40 aircraft for spraying of locusts, 100 field staff and high level locust plague management group meetings.
The meetings will include representatives of government and the NSW Farmers Association.
Ms Keneally announced the funding at the NSWFA conference in Sydney today.
“Our farmers have fought through a long drought and a winter deluge and we are now stepping in to help them protect their crops,” she said.
The move was immediately welcomed by NSWFA president Charles Armstrong.
“Preparedness is key and while we have been working constantly to achieve this, the extra resources announced by the Premier at our annual conference today will be a real boost,” Mr Armstrong said.
The Victorian Government has allocated $43.5 million towards the fight against locusts, of which about half would be used as a rebate to farmers for insecticides used on the pest.
In NSW, farmers pay a levy to the Livestock Health and Pest Authority, which covers the cost of insecticides.
Locust outbreaks are reported to the authority’s rangers, which hand out insecticide to farmers.
