According to the Department of Primary Industries, warm and wet weather across much of NSW early this year resulted in extensive egg laying, creating hundreds of egg beds across the state.

Furthermore, improved seasonal conditions and increased pasture growth had provided an abundance of green vegetation for locusts to develop and build up to large numbers, the DPI said.

Predications by the Australian Plague Locust Commission suggest the Riverina, including Junee, will be hit

by locusts next month, with the pests expected to hatch and fly north.

Junee farmer and Liberal senator Bill Heffernan said the plague could prove to be particularly devastating this year.

“It is expected to turn up in force just as the wheat is ripening,” he said.

“A lot of the pasture will be mature ... it will be a target if all goes to plan.”

Mr Heffernan said he was unsure how badly affected Junee would be by the plague, with no major hatchings cited to the south of the town so far.

However, if the locusts chose not to fly north as predicted, Junee could face more problems than expected, he said.

There were large numbers of egg beds to the west, Senator Heffernan said.

To help farmers prepare for the arrival of locusts, the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) will hold an information session at Illabo next week.

Senior ranger Mark Luff said the first locusts in the Hume LHPA region were expected to begin hatching early next month.

“In 2008 we had quite a few here and I feel it could be equal if not worse (this year),” he said.

“I hope I’m wrong but I think it will be a bad year.”

Mr Luff said farmers could best prepare for the expected locust plague by being on the lookout for locusts and reporting sightings.

“The more vigilant you are the more chance we have of getting on top of it,” he said.

Hume LHPA will host its information session at the Illabo Showground from 10am on Thursday.