Sponsors (5)
The bill provides targeted federal funding and coordination to protect fruit and berry crops and rural incomes from spotted wing drosophila, at the cost of modest federal spending, added administration, potential diversion of research resources, and risks of increased pesticide use and regulatory costs.
Fruit and berry growers (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, cherry) will receive targeted federal research and mitigation funding to reduce spotted wing drosophila crop losses, helping protect yields and farm income.
Rural communities and local economies that depend on fruit and berry production will benefit from reduced crop losses and potentially higher farm incomes from improved pest control tools and practices funded by grants.
Researchers and extension programs will gain grant funding to develop and deploy management strategies, strengthening agricultural science, extension outreach, and long-term pest management capacity.
Nearby communities and farmworkers could face increased environmental and health risks if strengthened control efforts lead to expanded pesticide use.
Regulatory responses or pesticide-based interventions prompted by labeling the infestation as a major economic loss could raise production costs for growers and potentially increase prices for consumers.
Taxpayers will fund the program — approximately $32.5 million in federal spending over five years — increasing federal outlays.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes APHIS to run a grant/cooperative agreement program to combat spotted wing drosophila and funds it at $6.5M per year for five years.
Creates a new USDA fund run by APHIS to support research and mitigation activities against the invasive spotted wing drosophila that damages soft fruit crops. It authorizes $6.5 million per year for five years to be distributed via grants or cooperative agreements to eligible recipients working on research, control, and mitigation. The law adds this programmatic authority to the Plant Protection Act, directs the APHIS Administrator to oversee funded activities, and establishes a multi-year authorization of appropriations to address crop losses from this pest.
Official title: Amend the Plant Protection Act to establish a fund for spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Gary C. Peters · Last progress February 9, 2026