SEVERE CROP DAMAGE
Caterpillars In Southland
(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 20.
Army caterpillars have begun ravaging pedigree timothy crops in Southland. At present the outbreak seems to be confined to the Limehills area, but at least five farms, with crops totalling more than 150 acres, ate affected. Aerial spraying will be carried out tomorrow on the affected areas to stamp out the outbreak. This is believed to be the first serious outbreak in Southland for many years. The caterpillars appear in the province almost every year, but only rarely is the weather conducive to their breeding. x One farmer in the Limehills area estimates that he has already lost a quarter of his 30-acre crop of pedigree timothy. He estimates that returns from the crop will be £2O an acre less than they would have, been if the crop had grown unchecked. “You can see them in their thousands,” he said. “They eat Into the centre of the seed stalk, extract what they want, and then move oh to the next stalk.”
Aerial spraying was to have been carried out today, but by the time all arrangements had been made the temperature was too high for the operation to be done successfully. Spraying is scheduled to start at 5.30 a.m. tomorrow.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28799, 21 January 1959, Page 12
Word Count
213SEVERE CROP DAMAGE Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28799, 21 January 1959, Page 12
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