Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, DC – More than $13 million will be available for California agriculture to address plant pest and disease issues, Congressman Cardoza announced today. The funding is part of the 2008 Farm Bill.

“I am pleased to see California receiving a significant share of these funds and am certain this will assist our state’s growers in addressing problems associated with pests and diseases,” said Congressman Cardoza, who sits on the House Agriculture Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.

“Congressman Cardoza has worked tirelessly to ensure that California agriculture receives funding to protect and enhance the diverse array of commodities our nation’s consumers depend on,” said California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger. “The recent allocation of $13.39 million in new funding for pest detection and prevention services will protect agriculture, urban landscapes and the environment.”

In all, $45 million has been released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with California receiving the largest share of the funding. It is being made available to state agriculture departments, universities and other organizations in support of 200 projects that seek to address pest and disease issues.

“It’s always good to see the recognition that we need to prevent invasive species from entering California,” said Barry Bedwell, President of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League. “This is a good step in the right direction. We must be vigilant and focused on prevention wherever possible.”