Mealybug Could Cost US Agriculture Industry Money

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00:00Mealybug could cost U.S. agriculture industry money.

00:04Texas agriculture officials are sounding the alarm after confirming that a fast-spreading insect,

00:09never before seen in North America, is now threatening ranches and farms across more than 20 counties.

00:15This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines, Miller said.

00:22If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia,

00:26it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity.

00:33The Texas Department of Agriculture is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

00:38and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to track how far the pest has spread

00:42and to figure out what can be done to stop it.

00:44According to Texas A&M experts, the pasture mealybug was first found in Australia in 1928.

00:51It's known to cause a condition called pasture dieback,

00:54where grass begins to yellow, thin out, and eventually die.

00:59The insect feeds close to the roots, often beneath the soil and plant debris,

01:03making it hard to notice right away.

01:05The insect is suspected to have been in Texas as early as 2022,

01:10but only now has it reached a level where large areas are being affected.

01:14So far, officials have confirmed infestations in 20 counties.

01:17Grass is especially vulnerable include Bermudagrass, Bahia, Johnsongrass, St. Augustin,

01:40bluestem, and other varieties commonly used for grazing and hay production.

01:45Farmers and ranchers are urged to watch for fuzzy white clusters near the soil line or on lower plant parts.

01:51With no approved U.S. insecticides for this pest, options are limited.

01:55The TDA hotline, 1-800-TEL-L-TDA, is available for reports.

02:00The USDA, TDA, and Texas A&M AgriLife are studying the bug, gathering data, and exploring control strategies.

02:09Early intervention is crucial to protect Texas' multi-billion dollar hay and livestock industry.