March 9, 2004

 The Honorable Ann M. Veneman
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Venaman:

 As the co-chairs of the Border Governors’ Agriculture Work Table, we are writing to request an increase in funding for sterile fly releases in Texas.  

Last August the NFACT Coalition (New Mexico, Florida, Arizona, California and Texas) requested an additional $3.24 million in federal funds to increase the sterile fly release density from the current 120 flies per acre per week to 500 in the infested area of the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  During a recent meeting of representatives of the U.S.-Mexico border states (Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas) we were greatly disappointed to learn that this additional funding was not included in the agency’s 2004 budget.

This augmentation is critical if it is indeed the agency’s stated intention to pursue eradication of this infestation.  The timing is also critically important.  Mexico has begun releasing 20 million sterile flies per week just across the U.S./Mexico border and the border state of Tamaulipas is increasing its Mexican fruit fly control and regulatory activities.  Just as important, experience with area-wide eradication programs all around the world have shown that increased releases of sterile flies are most effective at accomplishing eradication when begun during periods where the wild fly population is naturally declining.  This window of opportunity for Mexican fruit fly, April through August, is rapidly approaching.  At this time, it is the U.S. actions, or rather inaction, that threaten the success of this U.S./Mexico partnership to eradicate this Mexican fruit fly population.

For these reasons we strongly urge you realize the time sensitive urgency in providing additional federal funding of $3.24 million to augment the sterile fly release density in Texas.  The anticipated $40 million increase in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s FY 2004 budget would facilitate funding the requested $3.24 million.  We appreciate the opportunity to work with you on issues of importance to agriculture in our states and we trust that you will give serious consideration to our request and act upon it favorably. 

Sincerely,

Susan Combs                                                    Juan Pablo Hernandez

Commissioner                                                   Secretario Texas                                                                Baja California

cc:        The Honorable Javier Usabiaga Arroyo