The overall objective of this cooperative agreement is to support the state survey coordinator position and continue to conduct statewide surveys in tennessee to detect targeted harmful and…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $104,705 cooperative agreement to the University of Tennessee UT AG Research Division on January 26, 2026, to maintain pest survey infrastructure and conduct statewide surveys detecting exotic and economically significant plant pests in Tennessee.

The recipient will maintain the Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey infrastructure and conduct pest surveys and analyses supporting prevention, detection, surveillance, and rapid response to harmful plant pests. Specific deliverables include a statewide trapping survey assessing the presence of exotic wood-boring bark beetles and other beetle species, as well as oak lepidopteran pests in Tennessee. The work will generate presence/absence data for exotic pests affecting commodities and natural resources, intended to facilitate safe trade, enable early detection and eradication of invasive species, and improve plant health outcomes. Outreach efforts will increase public awareness of exotic pests to prevent accidental spread into uninfested areas.

The period of performance runs from January 26, 2026, through January 25, 2027, with work performed in Tennessee. Cost allocation includes $24,161 for professional staff at 716.09 hours and $50,770 for student workers at 2,339.93 hours. Intended beneficiaries include Tennessee farmers, exporters, the tourism industry, and the general public, with benefits accruing whether surveys confirm absence of pests or enable early eradication responses.

Activities

Maintain the cooperative agriculture pest survey infrastructure and to conduct specific pest surveys and analyses designed to aid in prevention, detection, surveillance, and rapid response to harmful or economically significant plant pests in tennessee. Conduct a statewide trapping survey to assess the presence of various species of exotic wood-boring bark and other type beetles and OAK lepidopteran pests in tennessee. Deliverables and expected outcomes: presence/absence data for exotic pests of commodities and natural resources important to tennessee and american agriculture. This data will help facilitate safe trade, possibly lead to early detection and eradication of exotic pests and improve overall plant health. Outreach efforts will result in more state residents with knowledge of exotic pests which can help prevent accidental spread into uninfested areas. Intended beneficiary(IES): tennessee farmers, exporters and the tourism industry will benefit from the results of this survey, as well as the general public. Whether the results are confirmation of negative data (i.e., pests not present in TN) or the ability to detect the pest(S) early enough to initiate an early eradication response. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a. Large cost categories: personnel: professional staff at 716.09 HRS @33.74/HR=$24 ,161, student workers at 2,339.93 HRS @ $21.44/HR= 50,770. Total $74,329. Fringe benefits at varying rates = $8,962, travel (in and out of state) = $10,204