The first meetings will be held in Culcairn on Friday 3 September, Temora on 7 September and Ganmain on 10 September, followed by meetings in Wagga, The Rock, Illabo, Henty, Cootamundra and Pleasant Hills from 13 to 30 September.

Hume LHPA ranger Trent Fordham says that the meetings will assist local producers in preparing for the expected locust plague in the region.

“To keep ahead of the upcoming plague, we are urging producers to be prepared to control locusts on their land via ground chemical application,” Mr Fordham said.

“At these meetings, rangers will provide information on expected hatching dates, what insecticides and equipment are available and the optimal time to apply chemical.

“Landholders will also be given very clear information about what they should be looking for on their properties so they can report any activity to their local LHPA.”

Mr Fordham said that during the locust plague, landholders need to work with their local ranger and these meetings are a good opportunity to meet rangers and discuss local issues.

The Australian Plague Locust Commission has revised their predicted hatching dates for locusts in the region, with peak locust hatchings expected in the Wagga and Cootamundra areas from 18 October. Depending on seasonal conditions, hatchings may occur a week or so either side of these dates.