The compliance and enforcement team's mission is to offer compliance assistance to those businesses and the community

The Department of Agriculture Pennsylvania was awarded a $150,000 Cooperative Agreement under the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The award, which runs from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025, supports the Department's efforts to safeguard agricultural goods and prevent the spread of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly. Key activities include:

• Conducting in-field inspections at 100 permitted businesses using PVWDC-trained canine detection teams to identify Spotted Lanternfly egg masses, with a focus on high-risk locations like log yards, lumber mills, and shipping facilities.
• Collaborating with the Pennsylvania State Police to inspect 75 commercial vehicles for compliance with Spotted Lanternfly regulations and the presence of the pest.
• Inspecting 50 nurseries for the Box Tree Moth, another invasive pest.
• Conducting routine training and attending outreach events to support the canine detection teams.

This Cooperative Agreement aims to minimize the impact of these agricultural pests on producers and distributors in Pennsylvania by enhancing detection and prevention capabilities through the use of specialized canine teams.

This assures our trading partners that every effort is being made to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly. IT has been determined that one of the most likely ways spotted lanternfly is spread is through EGG masses, which can often be difficult to find. PDA added a penn VET working DOG center (pvwdc) trained canine and a handler in a regulatory role during 2020 and another pvwdc canine and handler in spring of 2024. Both of those teams have also been cross trained to detect the invasive box tree moth.activities to be performed: the canine teams will continue to conduct in-field inspections at 100 permitted businesses, at least two days a week and two inspections each day. The team will inspect log yards, lumber mills, and other hard goods facilities and high priority shipping locations where PDA or UDA personnel are conducting field operations. Our canine team will also attend spotted lanternfly roadside inspection details. In collaboration with pennsylvania state police motor carrier safety assistance program, 75 commercial vehicles will be inspected, 7 trucks per detail with 10 details per year. During the details, commercial vehicles will be inspected for spotted lanternfly, as well as permits and inspection records. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the cooperator seeks to conduct a program which is expected to result in: safeguarding of goods being shipped to and from pennsylvania. Preventing the establishment of a new population of spotted lanternfly. Reducing the risk of spreading spotted lanternfly. Assuring trading partners that they are not receiving spotted lanternfly. Inspecting at least 75 commercial vehicles during roadside inspections. Inspecting at least 100 permitted businesses for spotted lanternfly. Inspecting at least 50 nurseries for the presence of box tree moth. Continuing routine training with both K9 teams. Attending training seminars as opportunities arise. Attending outreach events as opportunities arise. Intended beneficiary(IES): canine inspections for SLF directly aligns with the strategic goal of aphis to support domestic inspection activities at high-risk sites like warehouses and parcel facilities, increase inspections for regulated articles moving interstate, and utilize trained canine detection teams to improve detection capabilities. Developing these cooperative efforts with state agriculture regulatory agencies will help minimize impacts to producers and distributors of agricultural commodities.subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: n/a