THE great Aussie salute is alive and swatting in Tamworth and across the region – thanks to an explosion in the fly population.
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A combination of humid weather and intermittent rain has led to the surge, not only annoying those spending time outside during the heat of the day, but also posing a real threat to livestock.
Producers have been warned to be on the alert with the potential for a wave of blowfly strikes in sheep flocks.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries' district livestock officer in Armidale, Bob Marchant, said flies were just starting to emerge in numbers across New England and the northern tablelands although producers on the slopes and plains had started to experience large numbers of flies up to a month ago.
Mr Marchant said he had not heard of any fly strike problems as yet, but it was only "early days".
He said whether sheep were susceptible to fly strike depended more on the type of sheep and whether the line was likely to experience problems with fleece rot.
A range of products now available to sheep producers also means applications of insecticide could be made earlier in the season with extended periods of protection.
