JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – Farmers in South Africa’s Northern Cape province are fighting to eradicate swarms of locusts that threaten corn and grape vines.
“In some places there are swarms up to 10 kilometres long, but we have started spraying to get the situation under control,” said Hoffie Joubert, speaking for the Northern Cape Agricultural Union.
Locusts are affecting farmland near the towns of Uppington on the Orange River, Pofadder to the west and Brandvlei to the south, Joubert said.
One of the worst affected areas is around the town of Marydale.
Joubert said weather will determine the duration and intensity of the swarms.
If it gets hotter, more locusts will hatch from eggs lying dormant in the ground. Hatching stops in cool weather.
Farmers are trying to keep the swarms out of vineyards and fields where they are not allowed to spray for health reasons.
