USDA to open South Miami anti-pest lab

USDA to open South Miami anti-pest lab The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plans to open a new agriculture quarantine and inspection laboratory in South Miami later this year.
   Scientists at this facility will focus on developing alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation, treatment methods and pest detection technologies for use in ports, including chemical sensors and acoustic devices. In addition, work on controlled temperature and atmosphere treatments for commodities, as well as methods to trace a commodity's origin, will be conducted.
   The USDA said this new methods development laboratory, which is part of APHIS's Center for Plant Health and Science Technology, consolidates similar work conducted at several APHIS laboratories across the country.
   APHIS chose the South Miami location for its proximity to large air and maritime ports of entry. The agency estimates that 84 percent of all imported cut flowers and 54 percent of fruits and vegetables enter the United States through Miami.