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No. 2 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN INTERSTATE PEST CONTROL 

 COMPACT AND PROVIDiriG FOR THE ENTRY OF THE CGI"'IC^?;rEALTH THEREIN. 



Every year pests do approximately seven billion dollars in 

 damage to the country's agricultural and forest crop and products. 

 Many of these pests also attack our lav-Ti and gardens v;ith further 

 destructive consequences. 



In Massachusetts the losses reach well into the millions and 

 the costs in combating these pests will be astronomical unless 

 proper steps are taken immediately. 



There is currently a serious infestation of the pest known 

 as the European Chafer in parts of Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk 

 Coionties. This infestation is a threat to our agricultural crops, 

 fields and lawns. The first find of this pest in Massachusetts 

 was during the summer of 1966 and presently involves over 45,000 

 acres. Controls for the abatement and quarantine against this 

 pest have been initiated, but available funds at this critical period 

 are not adequate for a satisfactory control program. In addition 

 to the problem caused by the European Chafer, we must recognize 

 the threats caused by other pests in Massachusetts, namely, the 

 Golden Nematode of Potato, Cereal Leaf Beetle, Tobacco Cyst Nematode, 

 Alfalfa V/eevil, Gypsy Moth and Japanese Beetle. The Plant Pest 

 Cczipact would provide us with a valuable tool to combat these 

 pests and help prevent their spread to uninfested areas. 



Ilany of our plant pes-cs are nc- localised in their activities. 

 They move about all too easily, either ur.der their o'.vn po\':er, or by 

 "hitch-hiking" on air, sea and land vehicles in cargoes and even 



