National Plant Board Recognizes Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection Division with Outstanding Team Performance Award

Fri, Aug 30 2024

ATLANTA, GA - Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the Georgia Department of Agriculture's (GDA) Plant Protection Division earned the National Plant Board's (NPB) Outstanding Team Performance award for 2024. The division was recognized for exceptional performance in their efforts to trap, track, and eradicate the invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet from Georgia.

"I am incredibly proud of our Plant Protection Division's dedication and the progress they have made in our efforts to eradicate the Yellow-Legged Hornet from Georgia," said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. "Their commitment and expertise are essential to protecting Georgia's pollinator populations and our state's agricultural industry from the threat of the Yellow-legged hornet. This award is a testament to their expectional work, and I thank the National Plant Board for recognizing our team."

The NPB, an association of state plant regulatory officials that collaborates closely with state and federal partners, presented the award on July 24, 2024, during their annual meeting in Grand Rapids, MI.

"I am incredibly proud of our PPD team; their dedication and hard work have truly been inspiring," said Mike Evans, Director of the Plant Protection Division at the Georgia Department of Agriculture. "I also want to thank NPB President Mia Kirk for acknowledging our efforts. This award highlights the significant impact of the team's commitment to eradicating the Yellow-legged Hornet from Georgia."

The Yellow-Legged Hornet is an invasive species that represent a significant threat to Georgia's agriculture industry and the native pollinators that contribute more than $350 million to Georgia's agricultural economy every year. The Plant Protection Division's comprehensive effort-including tracking, trapping, and targeted eradication measures-has significantly curtailed the spread of this pest and plays a crucial role in protecting the state's number 1 industry - agriculture.

• Category

• Commissioner
• Plant Protection
• Yellow-Legged Hornet

Media contacts

• Matthew Agvent,Communications Director
• Liz Rivera-Brown,Deputy Communications Director

About the GDA
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is the voice of the state's agriculture community. The department's mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce.

Find us on Facebook • Follow on Twitter: @GDAFoodSafety •@GeorgiaGrown

For more information, visit www.agr.georgia.gov.

Georgia Department of Agriculture
Tyler Harper, Commissioner
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30334