Texas receives biosecurity funds

The Texas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $772,301 in funding from USDA to monitor entry of plant pests at strategic checkpoints and conduct reviews of Texas’ plant pest detection and response activities. TDA will use the funds to conduct roadside and market inspections for quarantined products infested with pests or carrying dangerous diseases. “These critical biosecurity funds will assist us in our goal of enhancing early plant pest detection and surveillance, threat identification and safeguarding our nursery industry,” said Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples.
TDA was awarded $107,479 to enhance plant pest and disease exclusion, detection and response activities as well as an additional $664,822 to survey critical entry points.
USDA has allocated $45 million from the 2008 Farm Bill for building and preserving critical plant health initiatives this year. Funding is being provided to state departments of agriculture, universities, nonprofit organizations and USDA agencies.