This year will mark a decade that Carroll EMC launched its biannual agribusiness seminar, an event that reinforces the co-op’s historical commitment to rural communities and support of local farmers through agricultural education. Staying true to this commitment, the recent spring forum, held Thursday, April 24, offered insight on invasive species affecting the region.
Chuck Bargeron, the Director of the Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia (UGA), shared a high-level synopsis of the many plants, insects and animals that are considered invasive in the Southeast. According to Bargeron, an invasive species is one that is not native to that ecosystem and causes harm or is likely to cause harm to economic, environmental or human health.
Statistics show there are currently 6,500 invasive species established in the United States, and every year, billions and billions of dollars are spent in damages, losses and attempts to control further spread. While difficult to prevent the spread of invasives, like the wild boar, Asian longhorned beetle and newly introduced yellow-legged hornet and spotted lanternfly, Bargeron shared how everyone can help identify and report them.
“If you see something unusual, and you can’t figure out what it is, let someone know,” Bargeron encouraged the crowd. “It’s the same concept as homeland security, but it’s our food security and biosecurity.”
Some ways to be proactive is by being familiar with the native plants in your region and choosing to plant those in your garden or yard. If you see something sprouting out of the ordinary, properly dispose of it and report it to your local UGA Extension or Forestry Commission offices. When you go camping, use local firewood, and if you go boating, check for hitchhikers before traveling home.
For additional resources on early detection or archives on thousands of invasive species, you can visit www.bugwood.org or www.invasive.org.
Agriculture will always be a driving economic force locally, regionally and nationally, and Carroll EMC proudly invests in that future through continued engagement and education. To submit topics for the next agribusiness seminar, please email corporate.communications@carrollemc.com.