Congressman Kurt Schrader called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today to help farmers combat the insect epidemic that threatens Oregon’s nearly $100 million berry industry.

“These new voracious fruit flies are a devastating problem for Oregon growers and our regional economy,” said Schrader. “The livelihoods of thousands of Oregonians are directly tied to our fruit crop industry and we cannot let this epidemic continue.”

The Spotted Wing Drosophila is a new invasive fruit fly that is devastating the small and stone fruit crops in Oregon, California and Washington. The larvae infest ripe and ripening fruits and once the larvae hatch and begin feeding, the fruit will completely disintegrate.  Because the fly infests ripening fruit and the damage it causes is frequently undetectable for several days after harvest, it is a particularly ruinous pest that results in reduced crop yields and significant financial losses.

In Oregon, the blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and strawberry crops are worth nearly $100 million annually.  The state’s cherry crop is valued at $55 million, and peaches, pears, prunes and plums are worth more than $25 million.  All of these crops are a vital part of Oregon’s agriculture industry and with growers reporting losing 20% of their berries and up to 80% of their late-variety peaches, they are all at risk of being devastated by this invasive pest.

Schrader wrote to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to support a grant request from Oregon State University to create an Integrated Pest Management that will focus on creating a long-term systems-based environmentally and socially sound pest management program.  The grant will allow researchers to document the fly’s presence so data on its life biology, food preference, movement, seasonal phenology and hibernation can all be incorporated into management strategies.  Researchers will also look at how to integrate chemical and alternative pest control methods and effective information delivery methods to reach out to growers.