Plant pests and diseases create quarantine situations that restrict intra and interstate marketing opportunities.
We support research to do the following:
Determine the impacts of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) by supporting and coordinating with the SWD initiative through Michigan State University and the Michigan Cherry Committee.
Develop new chemical and biological controls for disease detection, control, and eradication.
Enhance the use of natural plant pest predator species or bio-controls after reviewing potential environmental consequences.
Address viable control methods for Spotted lanternfly, Phytophthora capsici, downy mildew, overall spruce decline, Armillaria root fungus, and other plant pests or diseases.
Address replant issues in the asparagus industry.
Additionally, we support:
Industry-led efforts to control and prevent crop losses due to plant pests and diseases.
Aggressively advocating for pesticide manufacturers to develop new chemistries for existing and emerging pest threats.
Development of regulatory protocol, inspection procedures and pest control methods to allow shipment of quarantined commodities.
Indemnification for losses of farm income when agricultural commodities or products are impounded, farms are quarantined, or sales are restricted in the public interest.
Holding suppliers responsible for compensation of all losses due to imported plants with diseases.
Zero interest/fixed loan or direct and/or indirect compensation to producers for sudden market loss due to invasive species, including SWD, hemlock woolly adelgid and others.
Vomitoxin testing in corn field trials. We encourage ethanol plant operators to spot-check for vomitoxin in corn entering the plant and dried distillers grains leaving the plant.
Development of more consistent Vomitoxin testing equipment.
An industry-driven, comprehensive rewrite of Michigan’s Plant Pest Protection Act.
Educational efforts to help producers and consumers understand their importance in preventing the spread of plant pests and diseases.
A review and update of the invasive species quarantine rules in Michigan. We urge the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a permitting system allowing agricultural products to be shipped directly for in-state processing throughout the year during a quarantine period.
Quicker review and approval of species by the councils maintaining the lists for noxious terrestrial weeds and invasive species as defined by PA 451 of 1994.
Encouraging conservation districts to take measures to keep noxious weeds controlled.
We oppose banning neonicotinoid-based pest control products when there is a lack of research or conclusive scientific evidence linking them to declining bee and other pollinator populations.