WASHINGTON – Since June 2010, 446 square miles of Napa and Sonoma Counties have been under regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It was announced by the USDA that the European grapevine moth (EGVM) (Lobesia botrana) has been eradicated from California and that the Federal quarantine has been lifted. A total of 11 California counties were quarantined for EGVM since it was first detected in 2009. In 2011, USDA declared EGVM eradication from Lake County. In 2012, USDA declared EGVM eradicated from Fresno, Mendocino, Merced, San Joaquin, Solano, Nevada, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.
Congressman Sam Farr (D-Calif.) released the following statement regarding the announcement by the USDA, “After years of coordination between growers, researchers, the federal government, the state of California, and County Ag Commissioners, grapes and other crops can move without restrictions. As the Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I worked to fund the fight against this pest and I’m excited to see our investments in science-based approaches pay dividends so quickly.
“It’s extremely rare to completely eradicate an invasive species, but we did it with timely, robust investments and by working together. As climate change, pests, diseases and other challenges threaten our growers and our agriculture communities, I hope this successful model is replicated.”
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