Bipartisan bill supports research and control of spotted wing drosophila
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has reintroduced the Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act to help growers fight spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive pest that damages fruit crops across the United States.
The legislation was introduced in the House by Congressman David Valadao of California and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas of Oregon. A companion bill was also reintroduced in the Senate by Senators Gary Peters, Susan Collins, Jon Ossoff, and Jeff Merkley.
“Central Valley specialty crop growers work tirelessly to put food on tables across America, but invasive pests like the spotted wing drosophila (SWD) continue to make that job harder and more expensive,” said Congressman Valadao.
He continued, “SWD spreads quickly and infests healthy fruit before harvest, leaving growers with significant crop losses and higher production costs. By investing in research and innovative pest management strategies, the bipartisan SWAT Act will help our producers stay ahead of this growing threat and protect one of the Central Valley’s most important industries.”
The bill aims to increase support for research, monitoring, and control efforts targeting SWD. The insect attacks healthy fruit before harvest and has become a serious challenge for growers of peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, berries, and other specialty crops.
According to lawmakers, SWD has spread widely since it was first detected in the United States in 2008. The pest is now established throughout many fruit-producing regions, creating significant crop losses and increasing production costs for growers.
The SWAT Act would establish a dedicated fund within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Funding would be used to improve research, develop innovative management tools, and strengthen efforts to reduce pest populations.
Supporters say the bill would help growers protect crop quality while reducing economic losses. Fruit buyers often have strict standards, and the presence of even a single larva can result in a rejected shipment. This increases pressure on producers to invest in costly pest control programs.
“You won’t find better fruits and vegetables than the ones that grow in Oregon. Our specialty crop growers produce everything from blueberries to wine grapes, and those crops support family farms, local jobs, and communities across the Willamette Valley. Spotted wing drosophila can spread quickly and destroy an entire crop, turning healthy fruit into an unusable product,” said Rep. Salinas.
She continued, “The SWAT Act will direct $6.5 million to APHIS for the research and control tools growers need to fight this invasive pest, protect their livelihoods, and keep high-quality Oregon fruit on store shelves.”
The pest is estimated to cause more than $700 million in economic losses each year across the country. Lawmakers believe additional research and coordinated management strategies are needed to help growers stay ahead of the threat.
If passed, the SWAT Act would provide important resources to researchers and agricultural agencies working to protect fruit crops and support the long-term success of specialty crop producers.