APHIS in Action

Last Modified: July 15, 2026

Every day, APHIS works to protect the health and value of America's agricultural and natural resources. These articles tell a story about how we are tackling some of the biggest issues facing U.S. agriculture and natural resources today.

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This year, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reached a remarkable milestone: 50 years of the Medfly Program. This pioneering international partnership has stood as a critical line of defense against one of agriculture’s most destructive pests—the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly).

collage of images from the MOSCAMED program

What happens when two tiny travelers accidentally cross an ocean? Thanks to the dedication of APHIS employees and international partners, this story has a happy ending.

side-by-side images of burrowing owls looking at camera

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The Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG), a joint program between APHIS International Services and Panama’s Ministry of Agriculture, is leveraging technical expertise and skilled diplomacy to tackle a potentially devastating agricultural pest—New World screwworm.

Every day, members of the public, industry, and other stakeholders call the APHIS Customer Service Center to have a problem solved or a question answered. And every day, four APHIS Customer Service Center employees do just that for the callers.

APHIS customer service rep sitting at their desk

Importers of fruits and vegetables can reap significant rewards from an inspection program called risk-based sampling at ports of entry.

The Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program recently rolled out a new, advanced approach to surveying for the beetle.

After five years of relentless effort, the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) has been eradicated from Washington State and the United States.

close-up image of an northern giant hornet

People ship and receive packages using express courier companies—like FedEx, UPS, DHL, and others—all the time. But when the package includes an agricultural item, things can get dangerous for U.S. agriculture and natural resources.