“Through the Farm Bill Section 10007, the USDA strengthens our nation’s ability to safeguard U.S. specialty crops, agriculture, and natural resources by putting innovative ideas into action,” said Under Secretary Ibach. “Getting these funds into the hands of our cooperators around the country helps us to keep U.S. plants, crops, and forests safe from invasive pests and diseases, enhances the marketability of our country’s products, and makes American agriculture and natural resources thrive.”
USDA has funded 1,849 projects with approximately $228 million in Section 10007 funding since the 2014 Farm Bill was enacted. Collectively, these projects allow USDA and its partners to quickly detect and rapidly respond to invasive pests and diseases. They also help our country maintain the infrastructure necessary for making sure that disease-free, certified planting materials are available to U.S. specialty crop producers.
This year, funded projects include, among others:
- Asian Defoliating Moth Survey and Response: $1,700,370 funding projects in 14 states;
- Phytophthora ramorum and related species: $1,772,429 in 16 states and nationally for survey, diagnostics, mitigation, probability modeling, genetic analysis, and outreach;
- Grapes: $851,184 to enhance surveys for grape commodity pests and diseases in 18 states and harmonize Grapevine Nursery Stock Certification Programs;
- Plant Pest Rapid Response: $14,238,558 will be used for potential invasive pest emergencies such as Asian Gypsy Moth, European Cherry Fruit Fly, Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, Exotic Fruit Flies, Spotted Lanternfly, or the detection of any newly introduced, exotic pest that is of high economic consequence anywhere in the United States or U.S. Territories; and
- National Clean Plant Network: $6,049,997 to support 28 projects in 18 states that focus on providing high quality propagated plant material for fruit trees, grapes, berries, citrus, hops, sweet potatoes, and roses free of targeted plant pathogens and pests.
The public can help protect America’s agricultural and natural resources by being aware of invasive pests and the damage they cause. APHIS created the Hungry Pests public outreach program to empower Americans with the knowledge they need to leave these “hungry pests” behind.
Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/pestsdiseases/hungrypests to learn more about invasive plant pests and diseases impacting your area and how you can help. And, join the discussion about invasive plant pests via the Hungry Pests Facebook and Twitter pages.
Since the Farm Bill was enacted, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for American products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life throughout America.
For more information:
www.aphis.usda.gov/farmbill