Australia faces the prospect of the worst plague of locusts to hit the country in 75 years, which could cost billions in damage to farms, experts say.

Prolonged warm, wet weather last summer meant that three generations of locusts were born, each one up to 150 times larger than the previous generation, Britain's The Independent reported Sunday.

After spending the winter underground, the first generation of 2010 is already hatching, and after the wettest August in seven years the climate is again perfect, the newspaper said.

The juveniles will spend 20 to 25 days eating and growing until population pressure will force them to swarm, scientists say.

Experts fear this year's infestation could be the worst in the 75 years since records were first kept.

"South Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are all going to get hammered," locust expert Greg Sword, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, said.

A half-mile wide swarm of locusts can chew through 10 tons of crops in a day.

The New South Wales Farmers Association said an area the size of Spain was affected, and the government of Victoria alone forecasts $1.9 billion in damage, The Independent said.

earlier related report

EU reconsiders genetically modified foods
Brussels (UPI) Sep 27, 2010 –

European Union farm ministers are meeting to decide if decision-making on genetically modified organisms should be left to national governments, officials say.

The proposal, announced in July by the European Commission, has sparked controversy. It is the first time the commission is overtly handing back a power to member states, the EUobserver reported Monday.

The proposal would allow countries such as France to maintain their ban on GMOs while permitting Spain and others to proceed with planting genetically modified crops.

Countries could ban genetically modified organisms on socioeconomic grounds and cultural and ethical grounds on top of the present contamination-only grounds.

The proposal has raised concerns about the implications for the EU's single market.

"If we continue like this, the single market has come to an end," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

French Farm Minister Bruno Le Maire agreed.

"The commission must not hand over responsibility for this essential question for European agriculture," he said.

Even pro-GMO Spain has raised concerns.

"Moving to authorizations by each country could take us to the beginning of re-nationalization, something we have never supported in Spain," Farm Minister Elena Espinosa said.

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