Fri Jan 17 23:42:33 UTC 2025: ## USDA Announces $129.2 Million Emergency Funding to Combat Invasive Fruit Fly Outbreaks
**Washington, D.C. – January 17, 2025** – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $129.2 million in emergency funding to combat growing outbreaks of exotic fruit flies threatening U.S. agriculture. The funds, transferred from the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), will support domestic and international efforts to prevent the spread of these destructive pests.
According to APHIS Administrator Michael Watson, fruit flies pose a significant threat, impacting over 400 plant types and causing substantial economic losses. The funding will bolster prevention measures, invest in long-term solutions such as improved sterile insect facilities, and enhance response capabilities to detected outbreaks. The initiative focuses on combating outbreaks in several California and Texas counties, in collaboration with state agricultural departments.
The emergency funding is crucial to protecting the $14.8 billion fruit and vegetable industry and the livelihoods of countless producers. APHIS will utilize the funds to implement control measures, monitor pest movement, and prevent future outbreaks. The agency emphasizes the importance of early intervention to minimize economic damage and safeguard U.S. agricultural markets.
The USDA urges individuals to report any sightings of invasive plant pests or diseases through the HungryPests.com website. More information on invasive insects and fruit fly quarantines is also available on the APHIS website.
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