June 16, 2008
The Honorable John Laird Dear Chairman Laird: Farmers in California face many challenges including invasive pests that can be damaging to crop production and trade. Fortunately, the State of California has a history of vigilance in pest exclusion and eradication. That is proven daily with an aggressive trapping policy and the state’s Border Protection Station Program. The entire state benefits from this approach by protecting our food, fiber, and flower production and reducing the need for pesticides to protect crops and landscapes. One particular pest, Diaprepes abbreviatus, the Diaprepes root weevil, currently poses a threat to much of the state’s agriculture and urban landscaping if allowed to spread beyond Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties where it was likely introduced on plants that were brought into the state without authorization or inspection. A recent University of California study placed the potential annual cost to the state, consumers, and producers at $3 billion per year from an uncontrolled population of Diaprepes root weevils. But there is good news to report. You may be aware that the current California Department of Food and Agriculture budget proposal does not contain the $4.1 million needed to continue the Diaprepes root weevil eradication program for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Allowing this pest to spread could have devastating consequences for California. We hope you would agree that the progress to date is worth protecting. Please give serious consideration to funding the Diaprepes root weevil eradication program and not allow this pest to become the bane of farmers, the urban community, and the state. Sincerely,
Chuck Badger
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