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Mercer report - Download (MP3) Mercer report - Listen (MP3) Locusts are threatening to inflict more pain on some of the most drought-ravaged parts of eastern Australia. Hundreds of farmers have found beds of locust eggs and officials fear that many more have not been reported. Officials have said that recent wet weather has increased the risk of devastating locust activity. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports. Australia's last major locust outbreak occurred in 2004, when billions of these voracious creatures were hatched. They formed a 1,000-kilometer front that devastated huge areas of farmland, mainly in central parts of New South Wales. There are fears that the start of this year's locust season in late September could bring more grief to farmers, who have endured a long-standing drought. The insects can inflict widespread... [read full story]
