Platts Working to Expedite the Federal Government's Response to Asian Stink Bug Crisis Facing Farmers in Mid-Atlantic States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With some farmers in the 19th Congressional District and Northern Maryland experiencing more than a 50 percent loss of fruit crops due to the Asian Stink Bug, U.S. Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) is spurring federal agencies to get ahead of this potential crisis. The Asian Stink Bug has spread to 29 states and local orchards are just becoming aware of the extent of the damage caused by this insect.

Introduced to the U.S. from Asia in the mid-1990s, the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) affects many crops, including:  apples, corn, soybeans, peaches, pears, watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, wine grapes, and others.  It has also affected silage, young trees and may affect dairy cows.  In the last few weeks, orchards in the 19th Congressional District and the 6th Congressional District of Maryland, represented by U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (D-MD-6), have become aware of the extent of the damage done by this insect. While its greatest impact is currently in the mid-Atlantic region, the Halyomorpha halys has quickly spread to other states.

“Damage to farmers’ livelihoods and our local economies may become profound if we do not get ahead of the potential crisis,” said Congressman Platts.  “Just in the past few weeks, some orchards in our region are discovering more than 50 percent crop damage where last year none was detected.”

Yesterday, Congressman Platts and Congressman Bartlett convened a meeting with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the House Agriculture Committee to discuss immediate and long-term strategies to reduce the impact of the Asian Stink Bug.  They asked the USDA to fast track the re-classification of Halyomorpha halys to a regulated insect – allowing farmers to use certain pesticides to limit further damage to their crops.   Additionally, they requested that resources be made available through APHIS to expand monitoring, control and eradication programs, while also facilitating collaboration amongst the various federal research agencies, universities and crop protection companies to develop long-term solutions.