The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of grant funds for counties and municipalities to combat the spotted lanternfly from 2024 to 2026. The funding is provided by the Murphy Administration in collaboration with the Legislature, aiming to reduce the population and spread of this invasive pest.
Counties can receive up to $50,000 each, while municipalities can apply for up to $20,000. The funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and will reimburse eligible costs incurred for chemical treatment activities against the spotted lanternfly. Interested parties can find application details at https://bit.ly/3T5FVrY.
NJDA Assistant Secretary Joe Atchison III expressed satisfaction with previous participation: “We were pleased that many counties and municipalities took advantage of this funding opportunity in 2023.” He noted that extending the timeframe allows more areas potentially facing this threat for the first time to participate, thereby increasing chances of reducing pest populations.
Although adult spotted lanternflies do not survive winter temperatures, their egg masses endure through winter and hatch in spring. The Department encourages public vigilance in locating and scraping these egg masses using a credit card or hard-edged object. Each mass contains about 50 nymphs that emerge in late April or early May.
For more information on how to manage spotted lanternfly egg masses and other related details, visit www.badbug.nj.gov.
