4.2: Agricultural Pest and Diseases

REDUCE THE NUMBER AND SEVERITY OF AGRICULTURAL PEST AND DISEASE OUTBREAKS

Other Information:

Safeguarding America’s animal and plant resources from invasive pests and diseases ensures the continued prevalence of agricultural trade as the foundation of America’s prosperity and its people’s existence. The dynamic nature of invasive pests and diseases demands a proactive approach to exclude further outbreaks and manage established pests and diseases. Partnerships with Federal and State agencies, industry and professional organizations provide the framework from which we sponsor prevention activities. These activities allow for the coordination of effective pest and animal disease emergency response systems to limit the severity of such out breaks. USDA has begun phasing in a new measure of the economic damages avoided or mitigated by pest and disease eradication or control efforts. Economic sustainability of the agricultural crop and livestock systems and participation in global markets is limited by disease status. Many factors affect the likelihood of diseases of crops and livestock. These include: Globalization and international commerce, Presence of pathogen vectors, Industrialization of agriculture, Availability of vaccines and protection systems, Movement of animals during production, Continued emergence of new diseases, Genetic resistance of crops and livestock, and Availability of trained plant and animal health specialists. While traditionally open and extensive livestock production systems increasingly are more closely monitored, they remain vulnerable to intentional exposure to pathogens. Crop systems have limited diversity and will remain extensive, making them more vulnerable to intentional exposure to pathogens. USDA plays a vital role in: Securing supply, including Homeland Security issues, of quality food and fiber with its stewardship of Agency-administered programs; Administering provisions of the United States Warehouse Act, which supports a secure supply of food and fiber through enforcement of licensing requirements for commodity storage facilities; Reducing contamination from improper storage practices and providing adequate and secure storage capacity for the Nation’s commodities; and Ensuring an adequate capacity of approved and licensed storage facilities, reducing the amount of stored products that go out of condition, and reducing the time interval between licensed warehouse examinations.

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