USDA’s $70M boost to combat agricultural pests

Funding aims to protect crops from invasive species

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is injecting more than $70 million into agricultural protection through the 2008 Farm Bill’s Plant Protection Act, Section 7721 program for Fiscal Year 2025.

These investments will fund 357 projects across the U.S., including Guam and Puerto Rico, designed to enhance the nation's defenses against plant pests and diseases.

The projects, managed by universities, federal agencies, and Tribal organizations, focus on safeguarding the U.S. nursery system and improving pest detection and response capabilities.

Jenny Lester Moffitt, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, highlighted the initiative’s goals, remarking, “These projects will help in the fight against invasive plant pests and diseases, protecting growers and creating more export opportunities for American products.”

Specific initiatives include $5.8 million for detector dog teams, research and outreach for sudden oak death, and enhanced pest detection surveys in major fruit-producing states.

The USDA also plans to allocate $10 million for quick responses to emergent invasive pest threats like the spotted lanternfly and Asian longhorned beetle.

Since 2009, the USDA has supported thousands of projects and provided substantial funding to tackle invasive plant pests and diseases, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the health of American agriculture.

To explore more about these initiatives, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa-projects.