CBP Hosts Wood Packaging Material Pest Detection Training at Laredo Port of Entry
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Sep 5, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) this week hosted a national training development seminar in Laredo aimed at detecting pests found in wood packaging material that drew agriculture specialists and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) personnel from across the country.
The three-day Wood Packaging Material Pest Training Development drew 42 federal employees, including agriculture specialists from nearly all of the CBP Field Offices around the country as well as CBP officials from Washington and USDA personnel from diverse locations.
The training began with opening remarks by Kevin Harriger, Acting Executive Director, Agriculture Programs, Trade Liaison, Stuart Kuehn, State Plant Health Director, USDA-APHIS and Laredo Director of Field Operations Eugenio Garza Jr. The program included both classroom presentations, tours of Laredo Port of Entry passenger and commercial processing facilities and practical exercises to detect pests found in wood packaging material at World Trade Bridge .
During the practical exercises, CBP agriculture specialists from Laredo and Houston discovered pests from the Scolytidae and Cerambycidae families in wood pallets at the World Trade Bridge import lot.
“ Laredo agriculture specialists have led the nation in pest interceptions in wood packaging material so it is fitting that a national pest training development be held here when Laredo CBP agriculture specialists can share their expertise and experience. Agriculture specialists and USDA personnel from various field locations nationwide can adapt that knowledge and experience into their own diverse work environments,” Harriger said. “All of this pest detection work is important as it prevents pests not known to exist in the U.S. from having an adverse impact on American agriculture and timber.”
