USDA Seeks Fiscal Year 2024 Suggestions for Plant Protection Projects

Dan Agri-Business, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

The USDA wants suggestions for some of next year’s projects. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.

usda
The Giant African Snail (Achatina achatina), in the genus Achatina, also known as the Agate Snail or Ghana Tiger Snail, which grows to be the largest land snail on Earth.
The Giant East African Snail (Achatina fulica), in the genus Achatina, a serious agricultural pest in some countries
Archachatina, an African snail genus in the family Achatinidae.
By Sonel.SA/Wikimedia image
usda
Pink bollworms emerging from a damaged cotton boll. The pink bollworm, which had been the major cotton pest in the Southwest, was finally eradicated in the United States in 2018 through two main tactics.
Photo by Peggy, USDA/ARS.
usda
usda
Tomato Hornworm
by Pam Carter from Pixabay
usda
The deadly parasitic Varroa mite on the back of this honey bee is one of many insect pests that sugar esters may be useful in controlling. Sucrose octanoate, a sugar ester, can kill the mite without harming the bee.
USDA photo by Scott Bauer

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks input for fiscal year 2024 Plant Protection Act funding to protect American agriculture and natural resources. The open period for submitting suggestions for Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP) funding runs through August 9, 2023.

APHIS will provide $75 million in plant protection funding for the projects, including at least $7.5 million for projects under the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN). APHIS will set aside up to $4 million in funding to support Tribes, Tribal organizations and universities, as well as other minority-affiliated organizations. Under the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program, APHIS provides funding to its partners to help them safeguard against, detect, and respond to invasive plant pests and diseases.

Climate change has increased the level of plant pest infestations and disease infection, allowed pests to produce more generations each year, and extended the suitable habitat for plant pests.

New for this year is the change from the use of Metastorm for suggestion submissions to the use of ServiceNow. ServiceNow is a cloud-based platform that will deliver a consistent, user-friendly experience during the suggestion submission process. The platform is designed to be less cumbersome and more intuitive to navigate than Metastorm. See the PPDMDPP website for additional information.

To submit suggestions, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.

Listen to Sabrina Halvorson’s This Land Of Ours program here.

USDA Seeks Fiscal Year 2024 Suggestions for Plant Protection Projects

Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.

Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.