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Source: USDA, 4/2/21
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has
declared April 2021 as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month (IPPDAM). The national outreach initiative enlists the public in the fight against invasive pests. These damaging invaders threaten our nation’s food crops, forests and natural resources. IPPDAM aims to raise public awareness about this threat, which can devastate agriculture, livelihoods and food security. In celebration of the United Nations’ International Year of Plant Health, APHIS will partner with the North American Plant Protection Organization and Niagara Falls State Park to hold a special illumination ceremony on April 19-20 from 7-9 p.m. for 15 minutes at the top of every hour (you can watch it live here: https://www.cliftonhill.com/niagara-falls/livecam). The
falls will glow with green light to emphasize the need to protect plant health
across North America and around the world. “In this increasingly interconnected and mobile society, it has become even more important for the community to help us protect our agricultural and natural resources from the threat of hitchhiking invasive pests,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack. “We need your help to stop them before they pose a significant risk. If you see a suspicious plant pest, contact your local USDA State Plant Health Director. You could save a forest, farm or vineyard by making a simple phone call.” Many invasive plant pests and diseases are natural hitchhikers,
making it all too easy for people to unintentionally move them to new areas.
Hungry pests can hide in untreated firewood, attach themselves to outdoor gear
and recreational vehicles, and even take a ride in the mail. They can also be
accidentally moved to new areas via agricultural mediums such as soil, seeds,
produce and plants. Invasive pests have no natural predators in their new
environments and are more likely to throw their ecosystem off balance than
domestic organisms, which have evolved in their native habitats and pose less
risk to plant health. With your help, we can contain the threat of invasive pests and protect American agriculture and natural resources from the pests that threaten them. Here’s what you can do:
- Familiarize
yourself with the invasive pests already found in your area, as well
as the tell-tale signs they leave on wild plants and agriculture.
- Look for signs of
invasive plant pests and diseases and report them to your local Extension office, State department of agriculture or your USDA State Plant Health Director’s office.
- When returning
from international travel, declare all agricultural items, including soil,
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection so they can ensure your items arrive
pest-free.
- Don’t move untreated firewood. Buy certified, heat-treated firewood or responsibly gather wood where you burn it to avoid unintentionally spreading tree-killing beetles that hide inside untreated firewood.
- Be careful about
where you source your plants and seeds. If you purchase them online,
choose reputable domestic suppliers, or import them legally to ensure you don’t also accidentally import exotic pests and diseases.
- When in doubt, and
before buying seeds or plants online from international vendors, you can
contact your local USDA State Plant Health Director’s office to find out
what you need to do to bring them into the United States legally and
without pests.
Expand your reach. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter and visit the Hungry Pests website to learn more about
invasive plant pests in your area and what you can do to stop them. To learn
more about the International Year of Plant Health, visit USDA’s website or follow #PlantHealth and #IYPH on
social media.
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