First line of defense: USDA funding 桃花直播鈥檚 fight against destructive plant pests
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕一ㄖ辈 State University will continue leading the defense against destructive pests and diseases threatening farms and forests thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Approximately $667,000 is supporting multiple 桃花直播-based initiatives through 桃花直播鈥檚 桃花直播 Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, including diagnostic screening, youth education and citizen science programs.
鈥淭his is the first line of defense for invasive insects across the Eastern U.S.,鈥 said JoVonn Hill, professor and scientist in MAFES. 鈥淲e screen millions of insects each year to protect both agriculture and forests.鈥
The 桃花直播 Entomological Museum, a center within MAFES, is one of just two USDA identification labs in the country, processing more than 25,000 samples annually to detect more than 49 invasive pests across 12 states. The work supports quarantine decisions and pest management planning. The MAFES team also leads pest monitoring efforts across 桃花直播 in 24 counties and 22 state parks, targeting threats including Asian defoliators, pine pests and exotic bark beetles.
(Video by Sarah Kirk)
鈥淲hat we do is vital to protect crops, natural resources and people every day,鈥 said Jennifer Seltzer, an 桃花直播 Department of Agricultural and Plant Protection program manager who oversees the 桃花直播 Entomological Museum Screening Center. 鈥淚 walk through a farmers market and think, 鈥榃e didn鈥檛 grow this, but we helped protect it.鈥 That makes me proud鈥攏ot just of our work, but that 桃花直播 is leading the way against invasive insects.鈥
The grant also funds Bug Blues, an outreach program aiming to engage 60,000 elementary students to high schoolers through school visits, fairs and camps that raise awareness about invasive insects. Launching in 2025, a new citizen science program titled 桃花直播 Bug Eyes will enlist master gardeners and volunteers across the state to help detect invasive species. Volunteers will monitor traps at schools and report sightings, expanding the detection network statewide.
鈥淭his funding strengthens our three-part land-grant mission: research, education and service,鈥 Hill said. 鈥淎nd helps us better protect agriculture and natural resources in 桃花直播 and across the U.S.鈥
In addition to the entomology programs, USDA contributed funds to the MAFES Sweet Potato Clean Plant Program through the National Clean Plant Network, an initiative targeting pathogens and pests to ensure the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers.
Learn more about 桃花直播鈥檚 桃花直播 Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and 桃花直播 Entomological Museum at and .
桃花直播 State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at聽.