The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of over $70 million in 357 projects aimed at fortifying the nation's defenses against invasive plant pests and diseases.

The funding, provided under the 2008 Farm Bill's Plant Protection Act's Section 7721 program, will also enhance pest detection and mitigation efforts and support the U.S. nursery system, according to a news release. Projects will be managed by universities, states, Tribal organizations, federal agencies and other entities across 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.

"This funding provides our partners throughout the country the tools they need to help protect U.S. agriculture, our natural resources and food security," Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in the release. "These projects will help in the fight against invasive plant pests and diseases, protecting growers and creating more export opportunities for American products."

The 2025 initiative includes 339 projects managed under the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP) and 18 supported by the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN). The PPDMDPP addresses critical needs and opportunities to prevent, detect and mitigate invasive pests and diseases, while the NCPN maintains the infrastructure for pathogen-and pest-free certified planting materials, benefiting specialty crop producers nationwide.

Highlighted projects for 2025 include:

• $5.8 million to train and maintain detector dog teams for pest detection in California, Florida and nationally;
• $2.5 million for Tribal and minority organizations' plant protection efforts, including research, surveys, outreach and pest mitigation in nine states and Guam;
• $1.6 million to conduct national honey bee surveys across 44 states and territories;
• $1.1 million to protect American boxwoods from the invasive box tree moth;
• $1.7 million for stone fruit and orchard pest detection in 10 states, including California, Colorado, Missouri and Washington;
• $904,000 to develop tools and methods to control forest pests and conduct outreach in 12 states, including Georgia, Michigan and Virginia;
• $647,000 for research, mitigation and outreach on sudden oak death across 12 states, including Alabama, California and Louisiana;
• $1.5 million to enhance surveys and identification technologies for invasive defoliating moths in 16 states, including Alaska, Kentucky and Nevada; and
• $1.6 million for certified, disease-free citrus planting materials to protect nurseries and growers from citrus plant diseases.

The USDA has also allocated approximately $10 million for rapid responses to invasive pest emergencies. This funding is reserved for pests with high economic consequences, such as the box tree moth, spotted lanternfly and Asian longhorned beetle, ensuring swift action to mitigate potential threats.

Since 2009, the USDA has supported more than 5,800 projects and distributed nearly $940 million in PPA 7721 funding. These efforts have been pivotal in detecting and responding to invasive plant pests and diseases, safeguarding U.S. agriculture and natural resources.

For a detailed breakdown of the fiscal year 2025 spending plans, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa-projects.