USDA funds fight on light brown apple moth

USDA appropriated $15 million in federal dollars to combat the light brown apple moth (LBAM) infestation in California. The money will fund the Cooperative Light Brown Apple Moth Eradication Project, a multiyear program.

USDA’s funding will cover expenditures incurred already this year and projected expenses for the remainder of 2007.

The LBAM was first confirmed in Alameda County in March 2007. Since March, LBAM also has been detected in Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Napa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, Solano and Los Angeles counties.

LBAM has a host range of more than 250 plants including oaks, redwoods and stone fruits. California officials predict the impact on production costs for LBAM hosts could top $100 million.

Since the discovery, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and USDA have conducted an aggressive campaign of surveillance, trapping and treatment.

Control measures include pheromone treatments designed to disrupt the pest’s breeding cycle.

In May, USDA enacted a quarantine for all infested California counties and all of Hawaii. The quarantine restricts interstate movement of nursery stock to prevent the spread of LBAM.

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For more: CDFA, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Service, (916) 654-0317; www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/labam_main.htm.