Funds to fight apple moth: governor signs bill tocombat imported grape pest.

Sacramento, Calif. -- California has officially proclaimed the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) an unwelcome visitor, with a bill signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sept. 7 establishing the LBAM Act of 2007. The bill, SB 556, was introduced to the legislature by Senator Patricia Wiggins

LBAM is an Australian native that feeds on many different plants, stunting or deforming seedlings and injuring fruit-tree crops, citrus and grapes. As detailed by Dr. Cliff Ohm-art in his "Vineyard View" column in the September issue of Wines & Vines, its behavior and control are virtually identical to that of omnivorous leafroller, already familiar to California grapegrowers.

According to Wiggins' bill, "The introduction of the light brown apple moth represents a clear, present, significant and imminent danger to California's natural environment and agricultural industry." The infested area "contains numerous sensitive plant and animal species and habitats," the text continues. "There is an imminent threat for adverse effect and ultimate extinction to some of these sensitive species," should LBAM establish a permanent foothold in the state.

The bill suggests that LBAM could have a "minimum potential impact of $133 million to only four of the potentially impacted crops (apples, pears, oranges and grapes), and environmental impact from increased pesticide use."

The newly enacted law creates an LBAM program within the California Department of Food and Agriculture, beginning at once and mandated to allocate funds to counties and provide local assistance in eradicating the pest. The state budget allocates $2 million and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided $15 million to help address the problem.

Dr. Ohmart, an entomologist who has worked in Australia, does not anticipate that an LBAM infestation would devastate California winegrape vineyards, although control costs might increase. "It's not going to happen," he stated. "The big risks are around the freight issue. The freight issue is big. If things start getting embargoed, it could be a big economic issue."

Read the new law at leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0551-0600/sb_556_bill_20070907_chaptered.pdf.

RELATED ARTICLE: NUMBERS: Texas

* 220 -- Family-owned vineyards

* 3,700 -- Grape-bearing acres

* 138 -- Wineries

* $1 billion -- Economic impact

* 5 -- U.S. wine production ranking

Source: Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association