USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is allocating $57,762,405 from Section 10007 of the 2014 Farm Bill to support 513 projects. These projects will aim to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment, as well as ensure the availability of a healthy supply of clean plant stock. By working with states, federal agencies, universities, non-profits and tribal organizations, APHIS can extend its ability to protect, detect, and respond to plant pests and diseases with projects identified and tailored locally.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is awarding funds to projects that aim to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. (Photo: Paul Cooper/Thinkstock)

“These projects will help strengthen both rural and urban communities by securing crop production on America’s farms, protecting forests and other natural plant resources, ensuring the health of plant cultivation within gardens and nurseries, and promoting the global competitiveness of our country’s specialty crop commodities," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Since the 2014 Farm Bill was enacted, APHIS has funded more than 1,700 projects that have played a significant role in protecting American agriculture.

This year, funded projects include:

-Asian Defoliating Moth Survey: $1,166,298 for 13 states;

-Spotted lanternfly: $1,682,999 to support eradication and education efforts in Pennsylvania;

-Honey bees: $1,562,079 to survey honey bee populations, study bee health, conduct canine apiary inspection for disease detection, and conduct pollinator education and outreach;

-Invasive pest control on tribal lands: $522,240 for six projects to support tribal outreach and education initiatives and projects to mitigate and control invasive pests on tribal lands;

-Agriculture Detector Dog Teams: $4,451,455 to programs in California and Florida to enhance inspections and efficiently move products;

-Grapes: $860,690 to enhance surveys for grape commodity pests and diseases in 17 states and harmonize Grapevine Nursery Stock Certification Programs in the Pacific Northwest;

-Forest pest outreach: 17 states and $730,147 for forest pest outreach and education; and

-National Clean Plant Network: $4,574,905 to support 30 specific crop programs with 22 cooperators. These projects in 17 states 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 Farm Bill provided $62.5 million for these programs in fiscal year (FY) 2017, though funding was reduced by sequestration. View the FY 2017 Section 10007 of the 2014 Farm Bill spending plan on the APHIS web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/farmbill.

Source: USDA APHIS