In order to combat emerging pest and disease threats at home and abroad, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) held a stakeholder meeting this week in Riverdale, Md. on one of the key Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance provisions, Section 10201, which establishes a Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention program.    

That section was funded with $12 million annually in mandatory money for FY2009, $45 million for FY2010 and $50 million thereafter; however one of the recurring comments from industry has been concern over the Administration’s budget recommendation to slash 66% of the funding from the program for FY2010.

"Regardless of the beneficial comments that APHIS receives through this process, without a commitment of real dollars to this program it will fail to meet its objectives," said Kam Quarles, United vice president of government relations and legislative affairs. 

The two-day conference generated comments from industry along with local, state and federal officials to improve the program in the future.