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Seneca County supervisors back task force to fight spotted lanternfly infestation
Summary
County supervisors agreed to assemble a task force that will include local growers, Finger Lakes Prism, Cornell Cooperative Extension and state agencies to respond to a growing spotted lanternfly infestation that county officials say threatens vineyards and fruit farms.
Seneca County supervisors discussed a growing infestation of the spotted lanternfly and agreed Aug. 26 to assemble a task force of local and state partners to coordinate response and seek resources.
A county supervisor described reports that the insect, first detected last year in the Rhine and “Lesovid” area, has expanded to thousands this season and is a potential threat to the local grape and fruit industries. The supervisor said staff had contacted Finger Lakes Prism, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau, Finger Lakes Wine Growers, Soil & Water and state agencies including the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Agriculture and Markets to develop a response.
The county supervisor said the task force is intended to “apply political pressure” to secure state assistance and to bring technical resources to treatment and eradication efforts. He noted a Sept. 4 meeting with the Region 8 DEC chair to gather relevant information and said the county will coordinate with Supervisor Cronin Wetter (chair of the agricultural committee) and other stakeholders.
Participants mentioned an established control method that targets the tree of heaven, a primary host for lanternfly. A county speaker described one treatment method used by local specialists that involves drilling into the trunk of the tree of heaven and applying herbicide to kill it at the root; the speaker said this approach is part of Finger Lakes Prism’s eradication work.
Supervisors compared the situation to infestations in Pennsylvania and urged a proactive approach to prevent economic harm to wineries and related tourism. The county also discussed related environmental issues at length in the same session — including harmful algal blooms and lake weeds — and staff reported Soil and Water and Keuka County crews harvested nearly 700 tons of aquatic vegetation over 38 combined days; the material will be dried and used as a compost-like soil amendment.
Supervisors who raised the issue asked staff to continue coordinating the task force, to seek state and federal funding where available and to brief the board as the group develops specific control plans and funding requests.
