USDA allots nearly $70 million for invasive pest and disease research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is charged with implementing Section 10007 of the 2014 Farm Bill to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. Under Section 10007, APHIS provides funding to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, while working to safeguard the nursery production system. Section 10007 includes the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and the National Clean Plant Network.

Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program

The Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP) helps APHIS improve its ability to rapidly respond to and detect dangerous invasive species. In Fiscal Year 2018, APHIS has $63,550,000 in Farm Bill Section 10007 funds to support PPDMDPP projects in 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. The funded projects are organized around six goal areas representing critical needs or unexplored opportunities to strengthen, prevent, detect and mitigate invasive pests and diseases. View the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevent Program Website for additional information.

National Clean Plant Network

The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) provides high quality asexually propagated plant material free of targeted plant pathogens and pests to protect the environment and ensure the global competitiveness of specialty crop producers. In Fiscal Year 2018, APHIS has $6,050,000 in Farm Bill Section 10007 funds to support 28 projects in 18 States.

The NCPN Governing Board, which is comprised of USDA representatives and National Plant Board members, recommended the projects to be funded. Priority was given to projects that support existing facilities with established capabilities for maintaining and providing nuclear or foundation stock and for conducting diagnostics and different therapeutic treatments.