Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is allocating 50-million dollars for projects that prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. Funding is offered to implement projects at universities, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private companies and tribal organizations. These projects will advance the Farm Bill goals of early pest detection and the identification and mitigation of agricultural threats.

The projects were selected to: enhance plant pest/disease analysis and survey; target domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum; enhance and strengthen pest identification and technology; safeguard nursery production; enhance mitigation capabilities; and conduct outreach and education about these issues.

In making the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, – the wide range and record number of project suggestions will provide strong protection to America’s agricultural and environmental resources, and many will help nursery and specialty crop growers to flourish as the economy continues to recover.