Grasshoppers ravage pastures in western Queensland, graziers left searching for answers

Graziers in western Queensland are facing another period of destocking as large numbers of grasshoppers eat their way through the region for the third year in a row.

The insects, which are not believed to be locusts, last year damaged a large part of the area around Winton, Julia Creek, Hughenden, Muttaburra, Longreach and Blackall.

With rain over the Christmas-New Year period and storms at the start of February, the grasshoppers are back and have started eating pastures.

Bob Elliott from Belmont Station near Winton said entire…