By Kenneth Gravois
LSU AgCenter
Farming, nursery and ranching operations are often threatened by newly introduced and unwanted insect pests or diseases. The origin of these invasive threats can come from within the U.S. or from outside the country. In a global economy, it is common for goods and services to cross borders. Many introductions of new plant or animal diseases are brought about simply by bringing in infected plants or items in small quantities without realizing the threat. An innocent looking plant could become a harmful weed or introduce a new disease.