The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided on Tuesday to declare April as 2023 Invasive Pest & Disease Awareness Month. Each year an estimated $40 billion in damage is caused by invasive plants and insects, including damage to major crops. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “This spring, familiarize yourself with the invasive pest quarantines in your area and do your part to avoid inadvertently moving invasive insects and plant diseases to new areas.”