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Costa Announces $12.9 Million to Fight Plant Pests and Diseases in California

June 7, 2011


Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced $12.9 million in Farm Bill funding for Fiscal Year 2011 to help Valley farmers and growers prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases. Included in the funding is $1.1 million to prevent the spread of the European grapevine moth in California.

"Valley farmers and farmworkers depend on a strong summer harvest," Costa said. "This critical funding will give our farmers and growers a suite of tools to combat the spread of the pests and diseases that threaten Valley agriculture every day. I fought to include pest and disease prevention funding in the last Farm Bill, and I am pleased to see this money return to California. "

Barry Bedwell, President of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League added, "This essential funding will help California growers fight the spread of plant diseases and pests like the European grapevine moth. Working with our supporters in Congress and the Department of Agriculture, we will be able to continue protecting our crops from this pest and ensure a strong summer harvest."

The funding, made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), will go toward the following programs in California:

  • Asian Defoliating Moths Survey - $110,804
  • Enhancing Exotic Pest Surveys - $5,771,824
  • Plum Pox Virus (PPV) Survey -$221,607
  • Tomato Commodity Tuta absoluta Survey - $443,214
  • Detector Dog Team - $3,423,831
  • Enhancing Plant Pest Identification Capabilities at the California Department of Food and Agriculture - $221,607
  • Enhancing taxonomc and molecular diagnostics capacity for fruit flies - $110,804
  • Trap and Lure for Walnut Twig Beetle - $177,804
  • Tuta absoluta Sex Phermones – Detection and Management Tools - $110,804
  • Development of an Integrated Pest Management Program for the Light Brown Apple Moth in Nurseries - $83,250
  • Assessment of disinfectants for control of Phytophthora ramorum - $128,532
  • National Ornamentals Research Site at Dominican University of California - $664,822
  • Regional Strategic System for Early Detection of Invasive Species - $188,430
  • European Grapevine Moth - Survey and Control Technologies - $171,746
  • European Grapevine Moth - $1,108,036