USDA releases new funds for pest control projects

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the funding earlier this month. The money was provided by Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill. Funding will be provided to more than 50 cooperators including state departments of agriculture, universities, nonprofit organizations and USDA agencies in support of more than 200 projects. Roughly $2 million of these funds are being targeted to projects specifically related to the goal of safeguarding nursery production. 
“A number of the target projects are relevant to the green industry,” said Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA Vice President for Government Relations. “We are especially excited that several projects will seek to validate and measure effectiveness of best management practices and nursery systems approaches for pest management and nursery plant certification.” One such project is expected to be carried out in a partnership involving the Horticultural Research Institute and a university cooperator. Other projects of interest to the industry are focused on detection or containment of serious plant pests that affect nursery production and commerce.