U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to elevate the army worm to the U.S. Agriculture Research Service’s priority list of pests Monday.

The effort was spurred by the toll army worms already have caused across Western, Central and upstate New York. Mr. Schumer urged Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack to ask the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to produce a report with updated guidance for controlling the pest, which would be helpful to farmers and residents experiencing issues with army worms, as well as preventive measures for those who have yet to experience the invasion of army worms.

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