By Nico van Burick
Farmer information sessions were held this morning for farmers in Petrusburg and Jacobsdal after the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs had confirmed an outbreak of African armyworms (Spodoptera exempta) in the Free State Province.
Jack Armour, operations manager of Free State Agriculture (FSA), asked farmers to send photos of the worst infestations and a location indication via WhatsApp to 071 672 027 along with the name of the landowner and nearest town. This is for FSA to monitor the spread and mobilise disaster relief.
After the meetings Armour said the worms have spread extensively throughout the southwestern Free State. “There are farmers in Petrusburg reporting 400 hectares infested. At least 20 farmers attended the meeting, and all still have worms on their farms this morning. I’ve even heard of one farmer in Douglas in the Northern Cape managing 500 hectares of infested pasture.”
The meeting included representatives from the national disaster management division’s branch in De Aar, which has recently battled locusts. They have supplied farmers with 19 petrol-powered sprayers designed for use by extension officers. These sprayers produce a fine mist, applying 5 litres of pesticide per hectare. The pesticide remains effective on the grass for up to 14 days, during which no animals are allowed to graze.
“When the armyworms begin to eat the grass, it triggers a mechanism in the grass that produces cyanide. These elevated levels of cyanide can be harmful to livestock for as long as 40 days and can cause illness or death. If animals graze on grass with high cyanide levels, it may take up to 10 days for symptoms to become visible.”
The disaster management division has also made pesticides available, which they use for the locusts, in 20-litre cans at central points for farmers to collect. Armour says it appears this pesticide will be insufficient, and he advises farmers to buy and spray pesticide themselves where they can.
One way to limit the spread of the worms is to plough at the front so they fall into the furrows and cannot climb out again. They can then be sprayed before the furrows are closed again.
Also read: Armyworm outbreak in the Free State
