Apple Maggot Bill

Apple Maggot Bill. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Apple maggot is getting some attention in Washington State as there’s large support for a bill sponsored by Representative Bruce Chandler of Granger that would provide additional funding to control the pest. Chandler says the maggot can have a devastating effect on the tree fruit industry:

CHANDLER: We always have to make sure that certain protocols are followed by the industry and by the state Department of Agriculture to ensure that there’s no apple maggot presence in any of the fruit that is shipped to many of our customers. And the result is that from time to time, the cost of doing that goes up and down, depending upon what the conditions are for different parts of the state. This bill provided $150 thousand dollars, which is industry assessments. It’s paid by the growers.

House Bill 1889 would authorize a transfer of the money from the state Department of Agriculture’s Inspection Account to the Yakima District’s pest control board. The bill now moving through the state Legislature would help orchardists better monitor and eradicate apple maggots in the Yakima County area. The measure gained unanimous approval last week in the House. It’s now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. One thing is for sure a worm in your apples is something the tree fruit industry does not want to hear about.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.