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Displaying 81 to 100 of 656
ARS Science Key to Stopping ‘Man-Eating’ Parasite
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Jan 4, 2021
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USDA. ARS. Tellus.
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Eliminating screwworms from the United States saves farmers and ranchers nearly $900 million in lost livestock each year.
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ARS Scientists Seek Answers from Spotted Lanternfly Dispersal
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Sep 11, 2020
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USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
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The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species that destroy fruit crops, trees and plants by hopping from plant to plant, crop to crop, and tree to tree. Although native to regions in China, India, and Vietnam, it was first detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, Pennsylvania vineyards have seen considerable damage in high infestation areas and the Mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia have also suffered from its presence. Insecticides are effective at killing the insect on grapevines, but they are expensive and of limited use because of constant re-infestation from the Spotted Lanternfly dispersing from wild hosts to surrounding vineyards. So, U.S. Department of Agriculture Scientists Dr. Tracy Leskey and Dr. Laura Nixon of the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, West Virginia, initiated research on the invasive pest to see if they could develop sustainable pest management strategies and use the insect's dispersal patterns for other prolific specialty crop pests.
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ARS Takes On the Asian Giant Hornet
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Jun 8, 2020
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USDA. ARS. Tellus.
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An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist in the Pacific Northwest has joined the hunt for the infamous Asian giant hornet (AGH) — a threat to honey bees in its native territory that could also endanger honey bees in the United States if it becomes established here. AGH is also a health concern for people with bee or wasp allergies. At roughly 2 inches in length, this invasive species from Southeast Asia is the world's largest hornet. It has distinctive markings: a large orange or yellow head and black-and-orange stripes across its body. While the hornet's sting delivers a potent venom that can cause severe reactions—and in some cases, death—in some people who are allergic to bee stings, attacks against humans are rare. AGH earned its bad reputation from the way it hunts down honey bees and other insects, primarily during the late summer months when it seeks protein to feed its young.
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ARS Unveils New Disease Resistant Honeysweet Plum
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Apr 4, 2022
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USDA. ARS. Tellus.
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Meet the Honeysweet Plum: A virus-resistant plum that ARS hopes to bring to market soon. They are large and oblong with a very sweet, flavorful taste. ARS created the Honeysweet variety using RNAi, a biotechnology method that makes them immune to the plum pox virus. Plum pox infects stone fruit trees: plums, peaches, apricots and cherries. Once infected, the fruit discolors and falls from the tree prior to maturation. There is no natural, genetic resistance to the virus.
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ARS Weed Science: Research News and Highlights
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USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
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The ARS Weed Science Newsletter has been developed as a source for stakeholders, researchers, and the general public to find the latest research information on weed and invasive plant science. The newsletter is published twice per year.
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Asia Prepares for Crop Battle with Fall Armyworm
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Mar 20, 2019
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UN. FAO. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
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An insect that can infest and damage hundreds of hectares of maize fields, literally overnight, is sweeping across Asia – alarming smallholder farmers and threatening livelihoods – but the damage can be limited, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today. Fall Armyworm is native to the Americas. However, since 2016 it has been aggressively moving ever eastwards, sweeping across Africa, and making landfall for the first time in Asia last summer. Fall Armyworm (FAW) was first detected in India in July 2018 and by January of this year, it had spread to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and China’s Yunnan Province.
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Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2021 Asian Carp Action Plan
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Mar 22, 2021
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Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.
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The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced the release of its 2021 Asian Carp Action Plan, a comprehensive portfolio of projects focused on Great Lakes protection.
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Asian Citrus Greening Disease: The Threat to Africa’s Citrus Trade
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Oct 11, 2021
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CAB International. Invasives Blog.
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The yield losses attributed to Asian citrus greening disease once established can be devastating. If the disease continues to spread unabated in the citrus growing regions of East Africa, the annual value of lost production could potentially reach up to US $127 million over the next ten to 15 years, according to a recent paper published by CABI. The paper, The Asian Citrus Greening Disease (Huanglongbing): Evidence Note on Invasiveness and Potential Economic Impacts for East Africa (Jun 2021) [PDF, 2.9 MB], provides a review of the global literature on Asian citrus disease or huanglongbing (HLB) and estimates its potential economic impact on East Africa. The paper also makes recommendations for biosecurity preparedness, surveillance and management options to help decision-makers and citrus growers.
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Asian Longhorned Tick Found in Kentucky
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Jul 21, 2020
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University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.
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The Asian longhorned tick, which preys on a variety of hosts including humans and wild and domestic animals, has been found in Kentucky. This new tick is known to attack animals in large numbers and will be a concern to livestock producers, wildlife enthusiasts and pet owners. The tick has been found in small numbers on elk in Martin County and black bear in Floyd County. It was found in large numbers on a bull in Metcalfe County in the south-central part of the state. Individuals who find a usually large number of ticks on their pet or livestock should contact their local veterinarian. Those who find single ticks they think might be an Asian longhorned tick should work with their county extension agent for agriculture and natural resources to submit the sample to UK entomologists for positive identification.
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Assessing Pollinator Friendliness of Plants and Designing Mixes to Restore Habitat for Bees
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Jan 2022
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USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station.
General Technical Report. RMRS-GTR-429. -
The worldwide decline in bee populations is threatening the delivery of pollination services, thus leading to the development of pollinator restoration strategies. In the United States, one way to protect and restore bee populations is to use seed mixes composed of pollinator-friendly native plants to revegetate federal lands following disturbance.
Scientists assessed the attractiveness and use by bees of 24 native plant species that are standard for revegetation projects (focal plants) on national forest lands in western Montana.
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Assessing the Health of U.S. Forests: Annual Report Details Conditions Across All 50 States
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Dec 5, 2019
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USDA. FS. Southern Research Station. CompassLive.
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Forests are complex ecosystems. They are constantly changing as a result of tree growth, variations in weather and climate, and disturbances from fire, pathogens, and other stressors. The USDA Forest Service Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) program tracks these ongoing changes — every year, across the nation — as a forest health check up. The 2018 FHM report is the only national summary of forest health undertaken on an annual basis. It contains short- and long-term forest health assessments for the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The report is available as a General Technical Report. Individual chapters can be downloaded, and the full series of FHM annual reports is also available. Users can search reports and chapters by year or topic. Highlights and additional resources are also included.
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August is Tree Check Month
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USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
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August is the height of summer, and it is also the best time to spot the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) as it starts to emerge from trees. Because the ALB is particularly active this time of year, it can be easier to spot it or the signs of the beetle. Take a 10-minute walk around your yard or neighborhood and inspect your trees. If you see any signs, report ALB.
View related resource: USDA Asks Public to Help Check Trees for Asian Longhorned Beetle (Jul 31, 2023)
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Australia State of Environment Report Highlights Invasive Species Still a Major Threat
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Jul 19, 2022
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Australian Invasive Species Council.
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The 2021 independent State of Environment Report has highlighted that invasive species are identified as the most prevalent threat to Australian wildlife and are the primary cause of extinction events. The report warns of the compounding and devastating impact of multiple threats to Australia’s environment, especially invasive species, habitat destruction and climate damage.
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Australia's Native Wildlife in Grip of Unprecedented Attack
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Nov 23, 2021
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Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia).
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A new report, Fighting Plagues and Predators: Australia’s Path to a Pest and Weed-Free Future [PDF, 12 MB], reveals the environment is facing a "sliding doors" moment, with two possible futures for Australia, depending on the decisions made today. It highlights a looming wave of new extinctions and outlines two futures for Australia, one based on an unsustainable ‘business as usual’ approach and the other based on implementing targeted actions that will help save our unique biodiversity. The report pegs the conservative cost of damage caused by invasive species in Australia – predominantly weeds, feral cats, rabbits and fire ants – at $390 billion over the past six decades and around $25 billion each year and growing.
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Australia’s 10 Worst Invasive Species
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Feb 19, 2019
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National Environmental Science Programme (Australia). Threatened Species Recovery Hub.
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New research by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub has shown that invasive or pest species are a problem for 1,257 threatened species in Australia, or about four out of five species. The research which has been published in the scientific journal Pacific Conservation Biology also identified the top ten invasive species based on how many threatened species they impact. Lead researcher Stephen Kearney from the University of Queensland said many people may be surprised at which species top the list. “Rabbits, a plant root disease and feral pigs are the top three pest species impacting Australia’s threatened species,” Mr Kearney said.
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Availability of an Environmental Assessment for a Biological Control Agent of Air Potato
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Jan 11, 2021
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USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is accepting comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) that addresses the environmental impacts of releasing Asian leaf beetle (Lilioceris egena) to manage air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera). After careful analysis APHIS has determined that the release of Asian leaf beetle within the continental United States will likely not have a significant impact on the environment. Air potato is a twining vine that can reach lengths of more than 65 feet and is capable of climbing and out-competing native vegetation.
APHIS will review and consider all public input submitted during the 30-day comment period and use the information to complete a final environmental assessment. Members of the public can review and comment on the assessment Jan 8, 2021 by accessing it and supporting documents here: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/APHIS-2019-0068. This action will go into effect on Feb. 8, 2021, 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
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Availability of Petition for Deregulation of American Chestnut Developed Through Genetic Engineering
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Aug 18, 2020
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USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comment on a petition from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) seeking deregulation of an American chestnut variety developed using genetic engineering for fungal resistance to chestnut blight. The petition will be available for public review and comment for 60 days. APHIS is interested in receiving comments regarding potential environmental and interrelated economic impacts to assist in our assessment of the petition as it relates to the National Environmental Policy Act. The petition and Federal Register notice can be viewed on the News page of the BRS website, and members of the public will be able to submit comments through October 19, 2020, at www.regulations.gov.
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Avian Influenza Research Sheds Light on Possible Routes of Introduction to North America
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Apr 22, 2022
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DOI. USGS. National Wildlife Health Center.
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Understanding how wild birds facilitate the maintenance, reassortment, and dispersal of influenza A viruses (IAV) is key to forecasting global disease spread. The current highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in North America highlights the question of how viruses are transported between continents. Recent NWHC research sheds light on this question and the potential role Iceland may play.
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Balancing Act: A Policy Success Story in the Great Lakes
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Feb 23, 2024
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Michigan State University. Michigan Sea Grant.
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The Great Lakes remain one of the most heavily invaded freshwater systems in the world. Ballast water from cargo ships crossing the ocean inadvertently brought in many aquatic invasive species (AIS), accounting for the introduction of 40% of all nonindigenous aquatic species in the Great Lakes. However, collaborative efforts have led to pioneering research and policy changes that have reduced this threat.
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Balancing Act: Unveiling Public Perspectives on Taming Invasive Aquatic Plants
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2023
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Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. Choices Magazine.
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Aquatic invasive species threaten U.S. freshwater bodies throughout the country. One of the most prevalent and prevailing of these is hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillate), which spans from Florida all the way up to Maine, and as far west as California. The state of Florida alone spent $125 million from 2008 – 2015 to manage aquatic invasive species, $66 million of which went toward managing hydrilla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is estimated to spend $15 million annually on managing hydrilla. This submerged weed is primarily managed through cost effective, safe aquatic herbicides and more costly mechanical harvesting. Due to the prevalence of hydrilla, understanding stakeholder perceptions regarding its management is critical to its successful control.
This infographic displays Florida’s stakeholder perceptions around aquatic herbicide and mechanical harvesting usage, which can be utilized as a model for other states as well. Data analysis of 3,000 survey responses concluded that a majority of stakeholders are concerned about both the use of aquatic herbicides and mechanical harvesting.
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