Northern Tablelands Local Land Services (LLS) urges farmers to be on the lookout for signs of fall armyworm (FAW) following the detection of multiple moths around Inverell.
LLS Pastures Agronomist, Georgie Oakes, said while this is one of the first detections in the Northern Tablelands, it is likely more cases of FAW will be reported over summer.
“We need growers, particularly those growing sorghum and maize, to be regularly monitoring their crops for signs of this pest, as early detection is the first step in effective management,” Georgie said.
“Landholders should be looking for windowing of leaves where larvae have hatched and small shot holes as leaves expand, caused by larvae feeding in the developing leaf whorl.”
“Small larvae are difficult to identify, so we recommend growers keep suspect larvae on host crop leaves and let them grow for a few days until they can be more easily identified through photographs.”
In most cases, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) can identify larvae from clear photographs which can be sent via an online form or by calling DPI on 1800 084 881.
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PLAGUE LOCUSTS ARE ON THE MOVE
Have you seen an Australian Plague Locust? Reports of plague locusts are increasing in the Northern Tablelands region and we are currently monitoring and responding to the locust situation.
Adult Australian Plague Locusts are approximately 30–40 mm long with the female being slightly larger than the male. Two very distinctive features of the species are the black tipped rear wings and red shanks (tibia) on the hind legs. Additionally, above the shoulders there is a distinctive pale 'X' and this marking often extends towards the wings.
If you are concerned about the impact plague locusts are having on your property over the Christmas break, please call the Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
For more information about locust control, go to the
NSW DPI website.
Australian Plague Locust
REVEGETATION AND CONSERVATION ON TSRs
We often think of Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) as being a feed reserve for livestock when on-farm supply is limited, but our TSR network has significant ecological value too.
Upland wetlands on the Northern Tablelands are listed as endangered ecological communities and Red Rock East TSR, north west of Glen Innes, is home to one of these upland wetlands - Reddestone Lagoon.
A key threat to the survival of these ecological communities is alteration of water regimes through draining or damming of the wetlands, which has occurred at Reddestone Lagoon. Northern Tablelands LLS is removing the dam constructed in the southern portion of Reddestone Lagoon and enlarging a dam in another area of the Red Rock East TSR.
A revegetation project, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, is underway on Brockley Church and Quilpie TSRs along the Guyra-Ebor road to plant 1100 local native species from the endangered Ribbon-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Woodland native vegetation community. Once established, the trees will provide shade and shelter for stock on the reserves. Ground ripping has already been done in preparation for tree planning next year.
The Armidale Tree Group is also preparing for a revegetation project in which another section of Salisbury Waters TSR will be planted with local provenance native vegetation. There have already been about 3000 native riparian seedlings planted on the Salisbury Waters TSR to date.
For more information about revegetation and conservation projects on TSRs, please contact Helen Ward on 02 6720 8326 or
helen.ward@lls.nsw.gov.au.
Ground preparation at Brockley Church TSR on the Guyra-Ebor Road
FERAL FIGHTERS TARGET FERAL PIGS
The Feral Fighters program, which provides landholders with the tools they need to help manage pest animals, is targeting feral pigs from January to June 2021.
Feral Fighters will focus on feral pig trapping and baiting and aerial culling will be undertaken in certain areas to supplement on-ground control.
Feral Fighters are local landholders who work together in groups to undertake coordinated pest animal control programs – and you can join Feral Fighters too. Group baiting and trapping strategically targets pest animal populations in a specific location and is an effective way to reduce the rate of re-invasion.
Feral pigs pose a high risk of disease to livestock and cause significant environmental damage in the landscape.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services will provide grain for free feeding and poisoning, as well as loaning pig traps at no cost. Our Biosecurity Officers can explain how to set up the pig traps and free feed grain to get the best results.
Landholders must have a current chemical card to participate in the program. You can now complete the Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training course online.
If you are interested in participating in the Feral Fighters program targeting feral pigs, please contact your Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer:
Leanne Calthorpe (Tenterfield) on 0447 646 330 or leanne.calthorpe@lls.nsw.gov.au
Peter Frizell (Armidale) on 0427 007 192 or peter.frizell@lls.nsw.gov.au
Clayton Burey (Armidale) on 0427 007 191 or clayton.burey@lls.nsw.gov.au
Perry Newman (Glen Innes) on 0428 669 132 or perry.newman@lls.nsw.gov.au
Chris Watters (Glen Innes) on 0429 825 725 or chris.watters@lls.nsw.gov.au
Elli Keyte (Inverell) on 0447 654 883 or elli.sinclair@lls.nsw.gov.au
Dan McCudden (Inverell) on 0437 047 741 or daniel.mccudden@lls.nsw.gov.au
