A $19.6M Boost to California Agriculture

California’s agriculture just got a major boost with over $19.6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This funding is part of a $70 million nationwide effort to combat invasive plant pests and diseases, ensuring the health of agriculture and natural resources.

Mark Davidson, Deputy Administrator at USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, emphasized California’s pivotal role, stating, “California’s agriculture generates $24.7 billion in exports annually, making it vital to the national economy and food supply.”

The funding supports several key projects in California, including:

$4.5 million for invasive fruit fly surveys,

$4.1 million for detector dog teams inspecting international goods, and

$2 million for emergency plant health response teams.

Additional efforts will target grape pests, citrus diseases, and more, helping safeguard specialty crops and ensuring access to disease-free plants.

Since 2009, USDA has invested nearly $940 million in over 5,800 pest and disease management projects, helping protect agriculture and ensure a resilient food system.