A bill in Washington aims to stop the spread of an invasive species that is harmful to grapes and other specialty crops in New York. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues to introduce the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate the spotted lanternfly as a high-priority research initiative for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The spotted lanternfly is harmful to specialty crops like grapes across the state, especially in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. In 2025, researchers at Cornell University estimated that if left unchecked, the spotted lanternfly could cost New York's grape industry over $14 million over the first three years of invasion. Gillibrand says, “If not contained, this pest will have devastating economic consequences at a time when New York farmers are already having their profits destroyed by rising diesel and fertilizer costs. Congress must immediately prioritize spotted lanternfly research to prevent further spread."
