California grape industry receives funding to fight invasive pest

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $4 million in emergency funding to combat the spread of the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter in California. This pest acts as a vector for Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection capable of killing grapevines and other plants. The funding will enable the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to expand inspections, increase trapping and surveys, and remove infested plant materials in high-risk areas.

In addition to federal support, the Consolidated Central Valley Table Grape Pest and Disease Control District has authorized $1.7 million for emergency measures in Kern and Tulare counties. This industry-funded allocation aims to limit the pest's spread through Southern California and the southern San Joaquin Valley.

The threat to the agricultural sector was highlighted earlier this year when infested grapevines and desert willows were found at several Costco locations. The pest and the resulting Pierce’s disease have already caused hundreds of millions of dollars in cumulative damage to California's grape industry.