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Plant Health


2023: A Year in Plant Health

January 16, 2024 Cecilia Sequeira, Public Affairs Specialist, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) closed out another successful year of protecting domestic plants from invasive threats while enabling safe trade. In 2023, APHIS employees inspected at least 2.82 billion pounds of imported crops from 19 countries—a testament to the year...

Plants

Summer Movers: Protect Your New Neighborhoods and Surrounding Areas from Gypsy Moths

June 01, 2021 Tameka Tilliman, Legislative and Public Affairs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

If you are moving this year from a location within the gypsy moth quarantine area to a location outside the quarantine area, please inspect outdoor household items for pests. This is a federal requirement for homeowners moving from gypsy moth quarantine areas.

Animals

Annual St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Gift Highlights Relationship Between Ireland and the United States and the Importance of Plant Health

March 18, 2021 Lucero Hernandez, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

The spirit of The International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) was in full force this St. Patrick’s Day when President Joe Biden was presented with a shamrock bowl by the Irish Taoiseach (Irish for “chief or leader” – pronounced “tee-shuhk”), Micheál Martin, on March 17, 2021 at the White House. The...

Plants

Two Sisters Ensure Family Farming Legacy Thrives

March 02, 2021 Brielle Wright, Facilities Service Technician, APHIS

I am Brielle Wright, a facilities service technician with APHIS’ Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services in Raleigh, North Carolina. Both sides of my families were heavily involved in agriculture. As children we loved being in the garden planting cucumber and cantaloupe. Our great...

Animals Equity

From Vet to Fed: U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Now Helps to Protect America’s Agricultural Resources

August 10, 2020 Blayne Harshbarger, Management and Program Analyst, APHIS

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the agency I work with, will host virtual hiring events focused on military veterans this Summer and Fall as the agency looks to fill positions to help carry out our Agency mission to safeguard American...

Animals

APHIS-Trained Canines are Ready for their Close-ups: Dogs Featured on Disney+’s It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer

July 10, 2020 Aaliyah Essex, Public Affairs Specialist

A few of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) affiliated canines are showing off their “sniffs” and talents to the world in the Disney+ weekly series, “It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer”. The 10-episode series that began airing on Friday, May 15...

Animals

Creating the Perfect Picnic with USDA’s Help

July 24, 2019 Paul M. Zankowski, Ph.D., Senior Advisor for Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, USDA Office of the Chief Scientist

Have you ever considered what it takes to create the perfect picnic beyond the hamburgers, hot dogs, and iced tea? Most often, we include wholesome fruit and veggies to create the perfect side items or sweet treats. Whether its fresh corn-on-the-cob or plump, juicy strawberries on the shortcake...

Research and Science

Planning a Summer Road Trip to Canada? Visit USDA’s Traveler Website and Help Protect American Agriculture

July 24, 2019 Sydney Hart, APHIS Student Trainee

When buying souvenirs or food gifts to bring back from a trip, you probably think about what your loved ones will like best or which items will be the most memorable. But selecting the wrong type of gift could pose potential danger to U.S. agriculture, especially when bringing back food items.

Animals

MACS and Plant Pests

April 30, 2019 Jaime Adams and Genevieve Croft, Office of the Chief Scientist

Did you know the United Nations (UN), with the United States as one of 90 co-sponsors, named 2020 the International Year of Plant Health?

Research and Science

New Web Page Makes Info on Agricultural Pests and Diseases More Accessible

March 18, 2019 Gail Keirn, USDA APHIS Public Affairs Specialist

Each year, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) must respond to new threats to America’s agricultural and natural resources often in the form of invasive species or emerging diseases. To raise awareness about these growing threats and our efforts to manage, monitor and regulate...

Animals Technology
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