3-25 FB Invasive Species

 The Idaho State Department of Agriculture serves the public interest in many ways.   One important effort by the agency is conducting surveys, outreach and regulation to safeguard the consumer and agriculture industry from so many invasive species and other plant pests.  Invasive threats to Idaho include aquatic weeds and mussels, terrestrial noxious weeds, exotic plant diseases and insects. Managing outbreaks of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets, conducting nursery inspections and seed field inspections are additional ways ISDA works to protect Idaho’s resources and market access. Market access means freedom from invasive species is a key economic issue in the state and since we’re all trying to turn the economy around that means everybody can help. Here’s ISDA’s Ben Simpco: “What we’d like from John Q. Public is to kind of develop an attitude of being a citizen surveyor, to consider this part of an environmental ethic.”  Ben says if you see weeds or bugs or clams or muscles to call him at ISDA in Boise 332- 8627.