Rep. Costa Announces $16.922 Million To Battle European Grapevine Moth
This funding will help Central Valley farmers combat the spread of this foreign pest, which was first found in California in 2009.
"Preventing the spread of the European grapevine moth means ensuring the financial security of Central Valley famers and their families," said Costa. "I am pleased the Administration has recognized the seriousness of this threat and continues to provide resources to detect and prevent its spread. In the last Farm Bill, I fought hard for pest and disease funding to give our farmers the tools to combat the new pest Valley agriculture faces each day. This emergency funding will go a long way toward protecting our Valley economy."
Barry Bedwell, President of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League, commented, "This funding is coming at a critical time for our growers to intercept the first flight of the grapevine moth," said Bedwell. "With the help from our partners in Congress and the Department of Agriculture, we will be able to continue to protect our crop from this pest."
This funding, made available through USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is dedicated to stopping the spread of the grapevine moth at an early stage. Funds go towards the trapping, detection, and surveying of the pest.
Background
The European grapevine moth is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, southern Russia, Japan, the Middle East, Near East and northern and western Africa. Since 1986, surveys for this pest have been conducted throughout the United States without detections. However, in the fall of 2009, EGVM was found in California, its first detection both in the United States and North America. To date, CDFA has established quarantines based on EGVM detections in Fresno, Mendocino, Merced, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
More information about APHIS' European grapevine moth program is available online at www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/eg_moth/index.shtml.