$14M to combat spruce budworm in Maine and New Hampshire forests secured by Collins in disaster relief bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she has secured $14 million to help combat the spread of spruce budworm in Maine forests in disaster relief legislation that was released.  The federal funding would be supplemented by state and private money for spraying. The bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

“Throughout history, spruce budworm outbreaks have proven harmful to Maine’s forest products industry, resulting in the loss of timberland, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars and good-paying jobs,” said Collins. “As the vice chair of the appropriations committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding, which would be used to treat nearly 300,000 acres of Maine forests infected by spruce budworm and prevent further spread, helping to keep this vital sector of Maine’s economy strong for years to come.” 

The eastern spruce budworm is considered to be the most damaging forest insect in North America. Recent monitoring of Maine’s forests by the University of Maine shows a growing likelihood for a serious outbreak and indicates that as many as 300,000 acres of Maine fir trees are at risk. Left untreated, spruce budworm could spread to more than six million acres – nearly half of Maine’s forests. This would translate to an estimated reduction of 500,000 cords of annual wood supply, as well as a potential loss of $794 million and 3,865 direct and indirect jobs. Canada is already experiencing an outbreak.

The last spruce budworm outbreak lasted from 1967 to 1993, covering 136 million acres across Maine and eastern Canada. It stripped the needles from fir and spruce trees across most of northern Maine, killing seven million acres of trees and costing the state’s forest products industry hundreds of millions of dollars.