Farmers across Outback Queensland are facing yet another major challenge, with swarms of locusts tearing through more than 5.3 million hectares of pastureland, compounding the devastation already caused by this year’s catastrophic floods.
Rural Aid is ramping up its response, providing hay deliveries, financial assistance, and mental health support to affected farming families, and standing ready to scale up operations further as the crisis deepens.
“This is a one-two punch for many farming families,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.
“Earlier this year, floodwaters destroyed homes, fences, feed, and infrastructure. Now, as farmers begin to rebuild, locusts are stripping paddocks bare and threatening the recovery.”
Mr Warlters said Rural Aid had already begun delivering aid to rural communities and was fully prepared to escalate its support as needed.
“Rural Aid is already delivering assistance to rural communities and is fully prepared to step up support in response to this unfolding locust crisis — but we need the public’s help to do it,” he said.
Locust swarms have now been confirmed across the Richmond, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, and Flinders Regional Council areas, with widespread destruction to grazing land and natural feed supplies.
In response, the Queensland Government has announced an additional $4.5 million in funding for statewide locust control efforts, building on the $1 million provided last month under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
“Rural Aid welcomes this funding,” said Mr Warlters.
“But we know from experience that Rural Aid will play a crucial role in supporting farmers before, during, and long after this disaster.”
He said the impact of feed loss was mounting quickly, with hay deliveries essential to keeping livestock alive.
“Locusts are destroying thousands of tonnes of natural feed and replacing that with hay is going to require significant support,” Mr Warlters said.
“Rural Aid stands ready to deliver, but to match the scale of what’s unfolding, we’re calling for urgent donations. Every truckload of hay we send is funded by generous Australians who want to keep our farmers going.”
Rural Aid’s Support Efforts
To strengthen its presence in the region, Rural Aid is also recruiting a full-time counsellor to be permanently based in Western Queensland.
“Farmers need to know they’re not alone in this,” Mr Warlters said.
“We’re here. We’re ready. And we’ll respond with everything we’ve got — but we need Australians to stand with us and help make that happen.”
Farmers can register for support by visiting www.ruralaid.org.au or calling 1300 327 624.
Donations to assist farmers affected by the locust outbreak can be made at www.ruralaid.org.au/donate.
Queensland farmers are bracing for another devastating blow, as swarms of locusts rip through more than 5.3 million hectares of pastureland (Photo Supplied)
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