According to a recent Growing Produce web post, USDA has invested 4.7 million dollars to address critical plant pest problems. Growing Produce says "USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture recently awarded 16 applied research and development grants to enhance the development, adoption, and implementation of innovative, ecologically-based, sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) technologies, tools, and strategies that address regional and/or national IPM priorities. This includes "developing a multi-life stage management strategy for apple maggot", a project lead by Dr. Jaime Pinero, UMass Extension Fruit Entomologist, which will develope an IPM approach that combines the use of odor-enhanced bait stations with biological control for ecological management of the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella, one of the most important pests of apples.
The second grant, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, will address invasive insects through (1) research on the invasive spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, (2) monitoring of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, and the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, and (3) stakeholder engagement and education. According to Dr. Jaime Pinero, “This research is expected to result in improved monitoring and management systems for invasive pests. Our research will also lead to more sustainable control of apple maggot fly, potentially leading to reductions in insecticide use applied against this pest”. A full list of funded projects is here, including links to Brief and Full descriptions of Pinero's project.
