(The Center Square) – U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are teaming up to introduce legislation they say will protect farms and strengthen the agricultural economy.
The Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, introduced last week by both Pennsylvania senators along with U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, would designate the Spotted Lanternfly as a high-priority research initiative for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
“Spotted lanternflies have ravaged crops that are critical to Pennsylvania’s economy including grapevines, apples, peaches, hops, and more,” Fetterman said. “For over a decade, they have cost the Commonwealth millions of dollars and thousands of jobs.”
“Pennsylvania’s farmers work hard to produce some of the best agricultural products in the world, and it’s concerning that their hard work is at risk of being eaten away by pests,” said McCormick. “By investing in research to combat spotted lanternflies, this bill will help protect our farms, strengthen our agricultural economy, and better control this invasive species.”
Both senators argue that the Spotted Lanternfly is a “significant threat” to the nation’s agricultural economy.
Penn State Extension describes the Spotted Lanternfly as an invasive insect that has spread throughout the state since its discovery in Berks County in 2014. They are currently found in 51 out of 67 counties in Pennsylvania, according to Fetterman and McCormick.
In addition to Pennsylvania, they are also found in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The Spotted Lanternfly feeds on sap from a myriad of plants but has a strong preference for ones important to the state’s economy, including grapevines, maples, black walnut, birch and willow, according to Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture.
As it relates to the state’s economy, Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture said the Spotted Lanternfly can impact the grape, fruit tree, plant nursery and timber industries, which contributes billions of dollars each year to the state’s economy.
A 2019 economic impact study estimates that, uncontrolled, this insect could cost the state $324 million annually and more than 2,800 jobs.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Penn State University and Extension to control and contain Spotted Lanternfly.
