Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to say the prospects for the forthcoming winter and summer crops in Australia are favourable. Winter grain crops in the eastern states are in a very positive position after receiving good rainfall over the July-August period, and further rainfall over the eastern parts of Australia for most of September has boosted yield expectations. Given the favourable seasonal conditions in the eastern states, ABARE-BRS is forecasting winter crop production to be around 40.7 million tonnes in 2010, which is 16 per cent higher than last season.

The federal government is committed to minimising locust damage to crops and pastures. The Australian Plague Locust Commission, agencies from the affected states and national industry groups have been working together positively to develop and implement an integrated response plan, but I encourage farmers and landowners to regularly monitor their properties for hatching and report all locust outbreaks to their local authorities to ensure that they already—(Time expired)