The final phase of the golden nematode deregulation project, and the ultimate goal is to reduce the existing quarantine boundary to the smallest possible area and meet or exceed the 90% deregulation…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded $217,793 to New York State Agriculture & Markets on September 1, 2025, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The cooperative agreement, which extends through August 31, 2026, supports the final phase of the Golden Nematode Deregulation Project. The award aims to reduce the existing quarantine boundary to the smallest possible area while meeting or exceeding a 90% deregulation goal. NY State Agriculture & Markets will collect soil samples, identify fields eligible for reduced regulation through in-greenhouse bioassay testing, and conduct solanaceous weed surveys to develop and verify information sets required for deregulation decision-making.

Cornell University serves as a subrecipient and will conduct the in-greenhouse bioassay, process soil samples from the weed survey, and perform small-scale field trials to test resistance to RO2 (a resistance gene) in select potato varieties. The deliverables include removal of acreage from the quarantine area and improved understanding of RO2-resistant crops. The project benefits the potato industry in New York and nationally, as well as the nursery, sod, and general industries by expanding operational access to landowners and farmers while supporting informed deregulation communications.

Activities

Nysagm personnel will perform the following activities to further the effort to deregulate lands from the golden nematode quarantine: collect soil samples and send to PPQ for processing identify fields eligible for reduced regulation by means of the in-greenhouse bioassay run by cornell university continue with the solanaceous weed survey cornell university will continue to support the golden nematode mitigation and deregulation project by conducting an in-greenhouse bioassay and report results to nysagm, processing soil samples collecting from the solanaceous weed survey, and conduct small scale field trials to test resistance to RO2 of certain potato varieties. Deliverables and expected outcomes: removal of acreage from the golden nematode quarantine area. A better understanding of RO2 resistant crops and potato varieties. Intended beneficiary(IES): the potato industry in NY and nationally, the nursery and SOD industry, and the general public. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: cornell university is a subrecipient and will conduct activities as described above in item #2.