Full-page coverage has been published in the July edition of Rotary International Magazine, the article written by freelance environmental writer from the United States, Lance Frazer.

The article outlined progress of the program, the funding it has received and a testimonial from a local farmer describing the positive effect dung beetles have had on his dairy cattle.

The Taree North Rotary Club initiated the program in 1995 when the area, which is home to a large number of dairy farms and a substantial number of beef cattle producers, was plagued by an infestation of flies.

In the article, Mr Frazer explains that animal waste, dung, is a fertile breeding ground for a variety of insects and several species of parasitic worms. Streams can be plagued by run-off of phosphorous and organic matter, leading to heavy algae growth and other more serious issues.

In assisting, the dung beetle integrates the nitrogen-rich deposits into the soil quickly by digging a network of tunnels beneath a cow pat.

Pieces of the dung, writes Mr Frazer, are then carried down these tunnels and the female dung beetle forms the piece into a ball and lays an egg inside, after which the tunnels are backfilled.

When the larvae hatches, it has a rich, readily available food source. Other species live inside the pat itself.

According to dung beetle co-odinator Clive Woolcott, the aim of the Enviro funded project is to further improve water quality, reduce soil erosion and increase the fertility of the Manning Valley.

The program has involved the cooperation of Landcare, the NSW Department of Agriculture, Rural lands Protection Board and the Rotary Club. The Commonwealth Enviro Fund financed the beetle purchases, assisted by donations from Mid Coast Water and Gloucester Council.

To date, more than 301,000 beetles have been distributed, with the very first seven colonies of winter-working dung beetles being placed on the Mid North Coast in the past two weeks.

Thirteen species have been released and about three-quarters of the catchment ‘seeded'.