USDA Announces Emergency Funding To Fight California Moth

The USDA recently announced that $16.922 million in emergency funding will be made available to prevent the spread of the European grapevine moth (EGVM) in California. This funding will help growers combat the spread of this foreign pest, which was first found in California in 2009.

This funding, made available through USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is dedicated to stopping the spread of the grapevine moth at an early stage. Funds go towards the trapping, detection and surveying of the pest.

The pest is a known nuisance for grape growers in many of the state’s prime winegrape production areas, including Napa, Fresno, Merced, Mendocino, San Joaquin, Solano and Sonoma counties. At least portions of those counties have established quarantine areas to prevent the spread of the moth.