Sharpshooter Threat to California Vineyards | Fresno News

Four million dollars from the USDA is now targeting California’s fight against the glassy-winged sharpshooter — a pest that threatens to devastate the state’s wine industry by spreading Pierce’s disease. The funding, drawn from existing specialty crop programs, follows a rejected $32 million emergency request and comes after these insects were found on Costco plants sold across the state, with thousands still unaccounted for. Growers fear the pest could push more vineyards into collapse, even as officials scramble to track down infested materials. While California has allocated $10 million of its own funds, many in agriculture say it’s insufficient. This crisis underscores a broader failure: a recent government report revealed the USDA has neglected preparing farms for climate-driven pest surges, with funding slashed despite rising risks — a trend costing billions nationwide. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7994e709dfeba4e6