California could lose fire ant battle (budget cuts)

[kayell]

Elimination of red imported fire ants has been 97%-98% successful in California, but eradication could be rendered impossible due to state budget cuts. If fire ant programs receive no additional funding, they'll likely be dismantled by 2004, said Michael Hearst, Orange County Vector Control Dist. comm. dir. The state has spent $40 million on control since the pest was discovered there in 1998. If fire ants become permanently established, suppression programs would cost a minimum of $387 million annually, Hearst said.

Sorry that I don't have a link for this. It comes from an nursery industry email list that I subscribe to.

[efhmc]

1. Take it from me this will be disaterous for many crops and small

mammals.

[lindashaw]

2. Well, I wish I knew how they were doing it. In Texas we have FIRE ANTS!