USDA Provides more than $2.3 Million to Projects that Protect North Carolina Agriculture and Natural Resources

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Media Contacts:
Cecilia Sequeira, 301-851-4054
K.Cecilia.Sequeira@usda.gov

Suzanne Bond, 301-851-4070
Suzanne.M.Bond@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, January 18, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating more than $2.3 million to North Carolina as part of a nationwide effort to strengthen the country’s infrastructure for pest detection, surveillance, and mitigation, as well as protect the U.S. nursery system. USDA is providing more than $70 million in funding this year to support 350 projects in 48 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The Plant Protection Act Section 7721 gives USDA the authority to provide this funding.

“North Carolina agriculture contributes more than $95 billion to the local economy and employs 17.5% of the State’s workforce. Protecting North Carolina’s agricultural industry is vital,” said USDA Under Secretary Jenny Moffitt. “These projects will help North Carolina protect its resources and its contributions to our national agricultural economy.”

These funds will support projects covering a range of plant health protection activities including, but not limited to:

  • $431,000 to support the National Clean Plant Network plant stocks for multiple crops;
  • $273,187 to continue developing a data-driven platform to monitor Phytophthora plant diseases;
  • $226,585 to support invasive-pest risk monitoring and analysis;
  • $155,886 to continue developing predictive modeling to estimate target pests’ risk through their ability to survive in new habitats;
  • $148,560 to improve the existing Eradication Analysis & Decision Support tool by adding information modules to the application; and
  • $136,112 to determine climate suitability and potential climate change impacts for high-risk pests.

View the fiscal year 2023 Plant Protection Act’s Section 7721 spending plans on the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website: www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa-projects.

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APHIS protects the health of U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases, regulates genetically engineered crops, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and helps people and wildlife coexist. We also certify the health of U.S. agricultural exports and resolve phytosanitary and sanitary issues to open, expand, and maintain markets for U.S plant and animal products.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.