Menendez Announces $135,727 to Fight Stink Bugs Plaguing New Jersey Pepper Farms

Washington - US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Rutgers University, New Brunswick - Department of Entomology, $135,727 in funds to develop management strategies to eliminate two plagues that affect pepper farming in New Jersey - the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and Halyomorpha Halys. The grant was awarded through the USDA Regional Integrated Pest Management Program. New Jersey is among the highest producers of peppers in the United States, primarily produced for fresh and processing market consumption.

"As one of the major producers of fresh produce, New Jersey's economic growth and health depends on the prosperity of its agriculture sector. Our farmers need access to the most effective techniques to eliminate plagues that threaten their production level, as well as the quality of their products. With today's funding we are specifically helping pepper growers manage two prevalent plagues to guarantee that they continue delivering the fresh, first rate vegetable and fruits that distinguish the Garden State."

For more information about the project, please contact Rutgers University, Department of Entomology at 732-392-9774.

USDA Official Information on the Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers (IPM Centers) program:

The overarching goals of the Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers (IPM Centers) program are to improve the cost benefit analyses of adopting IPM practices and to reduce the environmental and human health risks associated with managing pests. The IPM Centers will promote the development and implementation of IPM by facilitating collaboration across states, disciplines, and purposes. They will serve as focal points for regional pest management information networks, collaborative team building, and broad-based stakeholder participation. The end result will be increased coordination of IPM research, education and extension efforts and enhanced responsiveness to critical, priority pest management and global food security challenges.

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/integratedpestmanagementcenters.cfm

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