Riverland cropping farmers expecting their best season in a quarter of a century now face the threat of devastation from locust plagues.

The Malinauskas Government announced a plague locust preparedness package last month, but it only provides for aerial spraying in the Flinders, Pastoral and Mid North districts.

Visiting Riverland farmer Steve Nitschke, State Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn says locust protection support for producers on the region stops at a rebate they need to retrospectively apply for.

“They’re not asking for the world, they just need a little help," she said.

“After three years of crippling drought, farmers like Steve should be revelling in bumper crops that are nearing harvest not drowning in paperwork."

Mr Nitschke says the Government rebate covers about $4 per hectare for chemical costs, but the real cost – including diesel, labour time and loss of crops that are trampled under tractor wheels – is closer to $45 per hectare.

“Farmers are happy that we can get a rebate, but we need more hands-on help from the government," he said.

"Even if the rebate was more realistic, a lot of the farmers up here, after three years of drought, don’t have tens of thousands of dollars spare to spend up front."

Mr Nitschke says most farmers are time poor and lack the equipment needed to control locust bands in scrub country and on roadsides.

“The Government says they’re doing surveillance but the only time I’ve seen someone up here, he told me he's not allowed to go into the paddocks – what’s the use of that?" Mr Nitschke asked.

"If they went out into the paddock, they’d see very clearly what we’re dealing with. There are hatchlings everywhere and they’ll soon grow into hungry flying adults.”

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Nicola Centofanti joined the tour today. She says most Riverland farmers have been doing everything possible since autumn to minimise damage from locusts but are being left to fend for themselves.

“Nearing harvest is such a crucial time with so much work to do, and farmers like Steve are burdened with inspecting and target spraying crops with no support, besides a rebate on chemicals that goes nowhere near covering the total cost of eradication," Dr Centofanti said.

“One thing the Government could do today to provide a barrier of protection is spray the national parks to the north of the Riverland.

“Our farmers are working so hard to rid their lands of locusts but it’s useless if there are plagues to the north waiting to swoop down and wreak havoc.”

The local Member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone, says the last serious locust plague in 2010 was devastating for the entire region.

“The mental and physical impact on farmers can’t be overestimated,” Mr Whetstone said.

“It’s not just about the crops that get eaten, if there’s contamination of dead locusts in the harvest that will have a massive impact on the price they get, or even see their grain rejected outright.

“That loss of income flows through the whole region. If the farmers have a tough year, everyone has a tough year. The saddest part is that it’s been the best season in decades, our farmers just need a bit of support right now to make sure they can finish it off.”