There have been reports of locusts hatching at 624 sites across Victoria, including some closer to Bendigo.

But present hatchings between Echuca and Gunbower north of the Murray Valley Highway are potentially the most serious. Farmers attending a meeting at Torumbarry yesterday were told that when locusts take wing they search for food, with a preference for green crops and grass.

At the meeting, hastily convened by the Department of Primary Industries at Torumbarry Hall, 40 landholders were given strategies to help control the outbreak. DPI state locust co-ordinator Warren Medwell said DPI would not be taking any action at this stage.

However, landholders and the Shire of Campaspe would begin spraying on Monday.

He said the locusts would take two weeks to develop wings from the hopper stage.

“Any locusts that survive spraying programs would move in a south-west direction.”

Such a move would place farmland around Pyramid Hill and through towards Serpentine at risk of invasion. Mr Medwell said the hatching bands were the result of adults laying eggs before Christmas.

“Most of these adults came in from NSW infestations late last year.

“There is a window of opportunity for controlling this outbreak before any major damage is done.

“This potentially is the biggest hatching this summer.”

He urged landholders to report locust activity to the Locust Control Hotline, 1300 135 559.