Invasive species are nonnative, alien, or exotic plant pests (such as insects, weeds, or pathogens), animal and zoonotic disease pathogens, or other organisms that cause economic or environmental harm to U.S. agriculture, range, and forest systems, or are likely to cause harm if they enter the United States. USDA, State, and other agencies have programs to prevent entry and to detect, monitor, and manage invasive species that enter the United States or spread to new regions. ERS conducts and funds economic research to support the effort to efficiently prevent and manage invasive species for the sake of competitiveness, safety, and security of the U.S. food and fiber system.
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