(Dow Jones) -- USDA Secretary Perdue kicked off his farm bill tour hearing from Pennsylvania researchers about a growing threat to the region's grape farmers: the spotted lanternfly. Academics at Pennsylvania State University, a standout in the nation's land grant system, gave Perdue an earful on the importance of federal funding for agricultural research, which got a boost in the last US farm bill. "I think it will be a priority going forward," Perdue said, after university members highlighted their work on improving water quality, disappearing bee colonies and emerging pest problems like the spotted lanternfly, which is devastating nearby crops. They pushed for ongoing funding for agricultural research, the scale of which is uncertain given steep cuts proposed by the Trump administration.
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