Money will be used to protect the agriculture industry from pests
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be giving upwards of $100,000 to the Maryland Department of Agriculture in an effort to support any initiatives focused on protecting farms in Maryland from being exposed to pests, diseases and other pathogens.
The USDA deems this a top priority as they estimate the total economic impact of invasive species to be about $120 billion annually.
“We are proud and excited to participate in these important projects to help better understand and address the pressures on honeybees and challenges for beekeepers,” said MDA Assistant Secretary for Plant Industries Carol Holko in a press release.
The following initiatives will receive funding from the USDA:
National Honey Bee Pests and Disease Survey
With their share being around $12,000, the funding will be used to help Maryland participate in the survey. Some of its goals are to determine which diseases and parasites are currently not present in the United States and investigate causes of Colony Collapse Disorder.
Asian Giant Hornet and Other Invasive Vespa Species Detection and Mitigation
About $18,300 will be used to prevent the Asian Giant Hornet and similar pests from entering the United States. If they do, honey bee colonies and crop pollination could suffer immensely. The Asian Giant Hornet has also killed humans.
Grape Commodity Survey
Close to $32,000 will go towards surveying vineyards around Maryland who import their grapes from other states. The constant movement of grapes could make it easier for pests to enter Maryland.
Phytophthora ramorum Survey
Nearly $35,000 will be used to ensure phytophthora ramorum does not enter Maryland. Nursery products are the second largest agricultural commodity in Maryland, bringing in around $400 million. Some nurseries receive plants from places that can be known to have P. ramorum.
Join the conversation and tell us, if you’re a Maryland farmer or agriculture producer, how you feel about the USDA putting nearly $100,000 into the safety of your crops.