Pest management research efforts get new state funding
leaching; and increase populations of beneficial insects, fishes, birds and game—all of which are very important in creating sustainable, climate-smart agricultural operations.” University of California, Riverside, grant project collaborators will receive $994,551 in BIFS grants to develop eco- logically based pest management prac- tices for hemp. Nearly $500,000 in funding will go to targeting eggs of the Arizona spotted lan- tern fly. The invasive pest was established in Pennsylvania in 2014, causing man-
agement challenges for grape, fruit trees and native forests. If it were to establish in California, it could pose a significant threat tomany California crops. The goal of the BIFS grant program is to fund biologically based farming sys- tems that employ integrated pest man- agement strategies. The IPM Solutions Program devel- ops management strategies to target exotic pests that are expected to arrive in California. The program seeks alter- native remedies to the use of harsher, broad-spectrum insecticides.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded nearly $1.5 million for pest management research. In a statement, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said the funds distributed this month will combat potentially danger- ous agricultural pests and support the state’s Biologically Integrated Farming Systems and Proactive Integrated Pest
Management programs. “These projects will support farmers in California providing additional and lower risk tools to combat pests while maintaining food and crop production,” Ross said. “Both the BIFS and Proactive IPM programs have been found to re- duce pesticide use; improve soil fer- tility; decrease erosion and nitrogen
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March 16, 2022 Ag Alert 11
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