ABOUT THE REQUEST
Before the end of the 2026 Legislative Session, lawmakers will finalize the last spending bill of the session (the “Christmas tree bill”). Included in that package is a request to allocate $1.8 million to restore and strengthen the Japanese Beetle Eradication program at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).
This funding would go directly to ODA’s Insect Pest Prevention and Management (IPPM) Program, allowing the agency to hire, train, and deploy staff to conduct the critical statewide trapping program during flight season (June–September).
Without this funding:
- Oregon risks long-term market access challenges.
- Continued shipment through the 2027 shipping season becomes uncertain.
- Family farms and specialty crop producers across the state feel the impact.
This decision will be made before the short session ends.
WHY NOW?
Unfortunately, the Legislature did not authorize the funding required to preserve the Japanese Beetle Eradication Project during the 2025 Legislative Session.
While this issue is hitting nurseries most significantly right now, and will impact agriculture broadly, and for the seed industry, if established in the state, it will have significant impacts on our crops and the export market. This pest has a broad host range and damage potential. The quarantine status and eradication programs for this pest are critical for keeping this beetle from establishing in Oregon.
Grubs can feed on the roots for extended periods during fall and mild winter months. Grubs live in the soil and feed on grass roots. Pastures, natural grassy areas, golf courses, and lawns are particularly vulnerable. Grub feeding can result in severe root pruning that limits the plant’s ability to acquire water and survive in drought-stress situations, often resulting in large dead patches of grass.
A proactive watch for this pest will help ODA’s broader efforts to keep it out of our production systems.
Unless funding is achieved, the burden of trapping and mitigation will fall on the industry.
This pest is a problem across agriculture, without this critical funding, this pest will spread across the state, devastating our natural environment and will impact production for sectors and loss of market share for a multitude of crops.
TALKING POINTS
Be polite and indicate you are a constituent of the legislator you are calling. Be sure to introduce yourself and your operation, and highlight the following:
- MAKE THE ASK: Please support allocating $1.8 million to ODA’s Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program in the final spending bill of this Legislative Session (the Christmas Tree Bill).
- This funding is necessary to strengthen Japanese Beetle eradication efforts during the 2026–2027 shipping seasons.
- The previous statewide program achieved 95 percent statistical eradication and was working. Unfortunately, it was not funded in last year’s budget.
- Without timely funding, Oregon agriculture risks significant economic loss and long-term market share.
- This investment protects jobs, interstate plant health, and the stability of Oregon’s agricultural economy.
- For Oregon agricultural sectors, lack of funding in this program puts our valuable crops at risk for significant damage, and financial implications.
RESOURCES
