Northwest Receives $6.5M For Pest Detection

The USDA announced Tuesday the Northwest will receive roughly $6.5 million for pest detection and surveillance. Washington was awarded $3.5 million, Idaho will see nearly $1.6 million while Oregon will receive $1.4 million for efforts to safeguard the U.S nursery production system.

Overall, USDA is providing more than $70 million in funding this year to support 383 projects in 49 states, The District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Since 2009, USDA has supported nearly 4,400 projects and provided more than $670 million in funding.

Here is a state-by-state breakdown of projects and efforts will will receive funding:

Idaho:

“Idaho has nearly 25,000 farms and ranches, which produce 185 different commodities. Protecting Idaho’s agricultural industry is critical,” said USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach. “These projects will help Idaho protect its resources and contribute to USDA’s mission of keeping our nation’s agriculture economy strong.”

Idaho’s funds will support a variety of projects, including:

$860,632 to support potato cyst nematode research in the State;
$250,000 to support biological control efforts of noxious and invasive weeds
$203,987 to support genetic diversity research of the potato cyst nematode
$152,610 to support research regarding the emergent and invasive pest species in the Western United States
$105,159 to protect the U.S. potato industry against exotic viroid pathogens impacting the potato trade

Washington:

“Washington has more than 35,000 farms on about 15 million acres. The State’s produces around 300 agricultural products valued at $7.9 billion. Protecting Washington’s agricultural industry is critical,” said Ibach. “These projects, will help Washington protect its resources and contribute to USDA’s mission of keeping our nation’s agriculture economy strong.”

Washington’s funds will support the following projects::

$1,196,727 to support National Clean Plant Network foundation plant stocks for multiple crops
$460,099 to support the Asian giant hornet response;
$270,000 to survey for Asian defoliator moths
$150,000 to survey for stone fruit pests
$139,000 to support the Asian gypsy moth post-treatment response
$130,965 to support community outreach and education for the Asian giant hornet
$126,830 to support harmonizing nursery certification standards for specialty crops to safeguard nursery production and comply with new European Union regulations;
$100,000 to survey for grape pests
$100,000 to survey for forest pests

Oregon:

“Oregon has more than 37,000 farms and ranches and more than 15 million acres of farmland. Protecting Oregon’s agricultural industry is critical,” said Ibach. “These projects will help Oregon protect its resources and contribute to USDA’s mission of keeping our nation’s agricultural economy strong.”

These funds will support projects covering a range of plant health and pest mitigation activities, including:

$235,000 for Asian defoliating moth survey
$246,669 to support National Clean Plant Network foundation plant stocks for berries
$177,944 to support an evaluative, collaborative, and strategic approach to the “Don’t Pack a Pest Campaign” targeting university students and faculty traveling internationally
$156,884 to survey certified prunus nurseries for the causal agents of little cherry disease
$152,429 to develop nematodes in the genus Phasmarhabditis as biological control agents of invasive gastropods
$95,121 to safeguard grapevine nurseries from introduced pathogens
$70,000 to support nursery surveys.

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