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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proclamation to recognize the designation National Pollinator Week (June 21–27, 2021).

Pollinator species, such as birds, bats, bees, and other insects, play an important role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $18 billion in value to agricultural crops annually and are critical to ensuring our diets are plentiful with fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

Public outreach and educational site (former Asianlonghornedbeetle.com site).

APHIS offers the Defend the Flock education program to provide the tools and resources you need to make sure that you are doing everything possible to keep your birds healthy and reduce the risk that an infectious disease will spread from your property to other flocks. Biosecurity is the key to keeping our Nation’s poultry healthy!

The Defend the Flock program provides information and resources from USDA and other experts for keeping poultry healthy. It includes practical tips from growers like you, veterinarians, state agencies, scientists, and industry professionals for practicing biosecurity every day. Biosecurity is a team effort. We have to work together to defend our nation’s flocks. Resources include information needed to practice good biosecurity is available here -- checklists, resource guides, videos, and other tools.

In response to the increasing damage and disease threats posed by expanding feral swine populations in the U.S. , Congress appropriated funds to APHIS in 2014 to create a collaborative National Feral Swine Damage Management Program. Congress continues to allocate funds annually to support the program. The program’s overarching goal is to protect agricultural and natural resources, property, animal health, and human health and safety by managing feral swine damage. APHIS collaborates with many stakeholders—including States, Tribes, other Federal agencies, universities, and the public—to accomplish this goal.
See related resource: Squeal on Pigs!

When it comes to preventing the spread of invasive pests, every one of us can play a big role. By doing the right things we can all help stop this threat to so much that we value. Please do your part and learn what you can do to "leave Hungry Pests behind."

Provides an analysis of outreach and engagement efforts.
See also: Geonarratives for all USGS geonarrative / story map resources

The lighting of USDA's Jamie L. Whitten Building is part of Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month and United Nations International Year of the Plant Health Celebrations.

Fire ants cause significant harm not only to humans, but to the food we grow? Imported fire ants have invaded about 350 million acres in the U.S., and they cause approximately $8 billion in economic damages per year.

Learn more about what’s happening with this invasive species that has spread throughout the southern U.S., and what ARS is doing about it, as the Office of Communications launches a week-long fire ant campaign (June 22-28, 2024). ARS will feature videos, articles, and interviews with our scientists who are leading the fight against these tiny invaders.
See also: Fire ant articles in Tellus

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proclaims April 2024 as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. During this month, we are encouraging everyone—whether you’re a gardener or a camper, a bug enthusiast or a student, a traveler, or an online shopper—to learn about the danger of invasive plant pests and what you can do to help. During the month, we are sharing information on curbing the spread of these pests to foster a healthier environment and protect our food supply.
See also: A Proclamation by the Secretary of Agriculture for 2024 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month [PDF, 189 KB]

Access a variety of curricula designed to make youth aware of invasive species and the damage they cause. There are lessons and resources – for both classroom and outdoors – that engage students in the process of discovery.
See also: Service Learning Curriculum which includes toolkit and sample outreach plan to help engage educators and young people learn more about invasive pests

Learn how hungry pests get around and what you can do to stop them.

Spread the word to help stop the spread of harmful invasive plant pests! Download, print, and use these materials in your state outreach efforts.

Learn how can do your part and leave hungry pests behind. Damaging pests can hitchhike from place to place on our cars and trucks and hide in fruit, vegetables, plants, firewood, or on common outdoor items. Working together, we can protect America's crops and trees from harm during our travels or outdoor activities. 

Templates for fields guides, brochures, pamphlets, outdoor signs to be used to create quality materials to increase awareness and protection.

Interactive Non-native Invasive Species learning kits are available to educate pre-school to adult groups about non-native invasive plants and animals.

African swine fever is a deadly pig disease that spreads rapidly and affects domestic and wild swine. While not a threat to human health, the virus could devastate America’s swine, pork industry, and food supply. Whatever pigs mean to you—your livelihood or a pet—we’re all in it together. Protect our swine and keep the disease out of the United States.

Help us spread the word to save the herd. These helpful resources on African swine fever are available to everyone with an interest in protecting our pigs. Please share the content with your networks and on your social and other channels.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proclamation in recognition and support of National Pollinator Week -- June 20–26, 2022. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds, and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $18 billion in value to agricultural crops annually.

USDA also released its Annual Strategic Pollinator Priorities Report: 2022 [PDF, 1.8 MB] that outlines USDA pollinator research and programmatic priorities for the coming year.