By Jackson Byrne

ABC Riverland

Topic: Agricultural Pest Control

Locusts are in many paddocks in South Australia's Riverland.

In short:

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions finished surveying a potential locust outbreak in South Australia's Riverland.

It has been over 15 years since the last outbreak in South Australia, which cost more than $12 million.

What's next?

Experts say it is hard to know if there will be an outbreak, but El Niño weather might help keep locust numbers low.

A locust outbreak in South Australia is unlikely, but not ruled out.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting an El Niño event with hotter and drier conditions.

The Australian plague locust commissioner says the timing of the season means an outbreak is unlikely.

The commissioner says the community must report locusts.

Swarms of locusts came to South Australia's Riverland from western New South Wales.

The commissioner says such events are not uncommon after heavy rain.

The locust population will start building up in spring.

In many paddocks, you cannot take a step without locusts hopping around.

Locust eggs need soil moisture to survive, so dry soil means no outbreak.

Regional SA is not out of danger yet.

The swarms have spurred the Department of Primary Industries and Regions into action.

Teams surveyed locusts in the Riverland for the first time since 2010.

There are several high-density swarms in the Riverland.

The numbers seen so far do not suggest a major risk.

The Department is watching other parts of regional South Australia for potential outbreaks.

It is unusual to have significant locust populations in the Riverland.

The southern Flinders and Mid North region have locusts more regularly.

There is green feed in those areas, so if locusts lay eggs, there could be a problem in spring.

People in the Mid North, Riverland, and Flinders want to avoid a repeat of 2010.

A past outbreak decimated crops and cost the government over $12 million.

Farmers are holding their breath.

A Riverland farmer remembers the last outbreak but does not expect a repeat.

The number of locusts now is not like what was seen in the past.

The farmer does not expect the swarms to result in an outbreak.

If there is an outbreak, the farmer is confident the Department will handle it.

The farmer and the Department learned from 2010.

Locust migration events must be expected from time to time.

At first, it is hard to see locusts, but they swarm when you step into a paddock.

A similar situation happened two years ago, but the population collapsed over winter.

It's a waiting game on the ground.

Experts and farmers agree there is no way to know for certain if an outbreak will occur.

At this stage, it's a waiting game.

Once there is more data, they can find out if an outbreak will occur.

A farmer has high hopes for this year's harvest.

The farmer is approaching the season with a positive mindset despite the swarms.

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