WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – U.S. Senator Gary Peters is working to stop an invasive fruit fly from infiltrating Michigan and damaging crops.
Senator Peters announced he is working with Michigan farmers and Michigan State University on the bipartisan Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act, which is part of the Farm Bill. He said it would mitigate the spread of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD) while cutting costs for growers and protecting their crops from being spoiled.
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“Michigan’s farmers are essential to our state, but their crops are under attack from the spotted wing drosophila (SWD),” Peters said in a press release. “The invasive insect is damaging crops and hurting the livelihoods of growers across our state and country.”
In addition, the funding would support MSU’s SWD response team and similar projects.
The SWD fly lays its eggs in fruit like cherries and blueberries and causes an estimated $700 million in losses every year.
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