USDA Provides more than $660 Thousand to Projects that Protect Agriculture and Natural Resources in Tribal Communities

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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 $660 thousand as part of its effort to strengthen Tribal Nations’ infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, threat mitigation, and outreach. 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.

“USDA is committed to protecting natural resources and food security in our indigenous communities,” said USDA Under Secretary Jenny Moffitt. “These projects will help provide Tribal Nations with the tools they need to protect agriculture and natural resources on Tribal land from invasive plant pests and diseases. Safeguarding these resources will also protect our national agricultural economy.”

These funds will support projects covering a range of plant health and pest mitigation activities, including:

  • $250,000 to support the Nez Perce Tribe’s effort to survey for invasive, noxious weeds, and produce and release biological controls on their lands as part of their integrated weed management strategy;
  • $202,240 to support the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s emergency response to the emerald ash borer in New York to minimize the pest’s impacts to ash trees and habitat;
  • $103,762 to conduct outreach and education in Wisconsin’s Tribal communities and develop rapid response capability to combat emerging plant health threats;
  • $65,474 to support an invasive species project on Maine’s Tribal lands; and
  • $40,000 to support the Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council’s survey for forest pests in the state.

Since 2009, USDA has supported more than 5,170 projects and provided nearly $809 million in PPA 7721 funding. Collectively, these projects allow USDA and its partners to quickly detect and rapidly respond to invasive plant pests and diseases. These projects also enable our country to maintain the infrastructure necessary to ensure disease-free, certified plants are available to U.S. specialty crop producers.

In addition to the PPA 7721 annual funding opportunities, USDA offers a variety of programs and services that are available to Tribal governments, communities and organizations, and individual Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. Visit the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) website for information on the programs and services available to Tribal communities at USDA.

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.