U.S. Senator, Chuck Schumer, is urging the USDA to take action against the spotted lanternfly.
Senator Schumer says the invasive pest threatens to suck the life out of New York’s vineyards, agriculture and great outdoors tourism industry. He is asking the USDA to provide federal support to curb the spread of the insect. If it does not get under control soon, farmers and local businesses could face millions of dollars in damage.
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The work could apply to ready-to-eat meals and delicate foods such as freeze-dried berries.
Cotton growers can use the survey to compare nutrient, herbicide, and pest-management practices against national production benchmarks.
Potato growers now have a fresh benchmark for comparing fertilizer, pesticide, and pest-management practices across major production states.
Officials say the tool could give Florida citrus growers another option against a disease that has devastated production for decades.
