Plague of biblical proportions devastates Midwest crops

In the heart of America's agricultural belt, a plague of biblical proportions is wiping out crops. The Midwest has been hardest hit, with Nebraska and Iowa bearing the brunt of the disaster.

The culprit? Drought conditions, brought on by months of abnormally high temperatures. Cornfields that were once lush and green are now withered and brown, as the lack of rainfall has taken its toll.

Governors in both states have declared states of emergency, as farmers scramble to save what little they can. The USDA has also weighed in, announcing plans to provide emergency assistance to those affected.

This is just the latest crisis to hit the agriculture industry. Earlier this year, extreme flooding caused billions of dollars in damage across the country. Now, with drought conditions continuing to worsen, things are looking increasingly grim for America's farmers.

Millions face starvation as locust swarm descends on region

The United Nations has warned that a locust swarm the size of Connecticut is descending on East Africa, where it could affect up to 10 million people and cause widespread starvation.

"This is a real test for our humanitarian system and for the governments in the region," said John Sightler, regional spokesman for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The locusts have already destroyed crops in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, and the FAO fears they could spread to South Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2011 a similar locust outbreak caused $1.2 billion in damage and left millions hungry. This year's swarm is much larger, and officials say there is not enough food in the region to sustain them if the locusts continue to spread.

"We need to act fast or we will face a major humanitarian crisis," said Sightler.

The FAO has launched an emergency appeal for funds to help farmers protect their crops and prevent widespread starvation.

Severe drought creates perfect environment for locusts to thrive

A severe drought is creating the perfect environment for locusts to thrive in northeast Nigeria. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that the situation could worsen if the rains do not arrive soon.

The lack of rainfall has led to a decline in crop production and livestock farming, leaving the area vulnerable to an outbreak of locusts. "The conditions are right for them to breed and multiply very rapidly," said Vincent Martin, FAO's representative in Nigeria. "We are calling on the international community to provide urgently needed support."

So far, the FAO has mobilized $2.5 million worth of emergency assistance, including pesticides and helicopters to help control the locust population. They warn that if nothing is done, the locusts could migrate to other parts of Africa and cause significant damage to crops.

Scientists warn of coming locust plague that could devastate world food supplies

A team of scientists from the University of Sydney has issued a warning that a locust plague could devastate global food supplies within the next five years.

The researchers, who recently published their findings in the journal PLOS One, say that climate change is creating ideal conditions for an outbreak of the insects, which can swarm in numbers numbering in the billions and devour crops en masse.

They warn that if left unchecked, a locust plague could cause serious food shortages and mass starvation in some parts of the world.

"It is critical to have an early warning system so we can mobilise resources and prevent another food crisis like the one we saw in East Africa six years ago," said study co-author Dr Joseph Hedberg.

The East African famine of 2011-12 was caused by a severe drought, which led to widespread crop failure and mass starvation. An estimated 260,000 people died as a result of the famine.

In order to guard against a similar disaster, the University of Sydney team has developed a forecasting model that predicts where locust plagues are most likely to occur.

The model takes into account factors such as rainfall levels, humidity and temperature, as well as historical data on locust outbreaks. It can then provide alerts to national governments and aid agencies so they can take preventative action.

Dr Hedberg said it was important to act fast when there was an outbreak of locusts.

"If you can get there early with enough resources you can stop them from developing into a full-blown plague," he said. "But if you wait until they are well established it's going to be much harder to control them."

South Sudan hit hardest by locust plague, threatens regional stability

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Thursday that the plague of locusts ravaging parts of East Africa is threatening the food security of millions of people, including in South Sudan which has been hit hardest.

"The situation is critical, we are facing a major humanitarian emergency," said Abdou Diouf, FAO Regional Director for the Near East and North Africa.

South Sudan, which is already struggling to cope with a civil war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, has seen its crop production slashed by more than half this year due to the locusts.

"The continuous fighting in many parts of the country has disrupted agricultural activities, access to farmland and markets. This has exacerbated the impact of the locust invasion," said FAO's South Sudan representative Serge Tissot.

The FAO said it needs $70 million to address the crisis but so far has received only $27 million. It appealed for fresh donations at a meeting in Rome on Thursday attended by representatives of donor countries and agencies.