Cooperative Agreement AP26PPQFO000C081

AWARD PURPOSE: THE ALASKA DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE (DOAG) WILL CARRY OUT ESSENTIAL CAPS AND PPA 7721 FUNDED ACTIVITIES TO SAFEGUARD THE STATE AND NATION'S AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL, AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES. WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM USDA-APHIS, THE DOAG WILL COORDINATE AND EXECUTE SURVEYS TO DETECT INVASIVE PLANT PESTS THAT MAY BE INTRODUCED AND POSE A THREAT TO NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO ALASKA, NAMELY POTATOES, COLD CROPS, SMALL GRAINS, FORAGE CROPS, GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION, WILD BERRIES, CUT FLOWERS, AND FOREST PRODUCTS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: COOPERATE WITH THE APHIS STATE PLANT HEALTH DIRECTOR (SPHD) AND APHIS PEST SURVEY SPECIAIST TO SURVEY FOR PLANT PESTS OF CONCERN TO BOTH PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE (PPQ) AND THE STATE OF ALASKA. COORDINATE WITH STATEWIDE CAPS COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO REVIEW AND PRIORITIZE EXOTIC PEST SURVEY CONCERNS FOR ALASKA. MAINTAIN A PRIORITY PEST LIST FOR ALASKA. PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH PEST RESPONSE ACTIVITIES AND PLANNING. COORDINATE SURVEY DATA COLLECTION, ENSURE ACCURATE AND TIMELY DATA ENTRY INTO AN APHIS APPROVED DATABASE, AND REPORT NEW FINDINGS THROUGH APPROPRIATE CHANNELS. COOPERATE WITH OTHER STATE, FEDERAL, NATIVE AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE PESTS, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, AND PLAN FOR PREVENTION, DETECTION, CONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF PLANT PESTS IN ALASKA. EXAMPLES OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS ARE AISP (ALASKA INVASIVE SPECIES PARTNERSHIP) AND AKPRAC (ALASKA PEST RISK COMMITTEE). AID AND/ OR CONDUCT FUNDED PPA 7721 SURVEY ACTIVITIES IN ALASKA, AS REQUIRED. PARTICIPATE AND ATTEND APPROPRIATE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEETINGS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT ALASKA IS MEETING THE NATIONWIDE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: PRESENCE / ABSENCE DATA FOR EXOTIC PESTS OF COMMODITIES AND NATURAL RESOURCES IMPORTANT TO AK 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 THE UNITED STATES. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): PPQ, AK DOA, INDUSTRY/EXPORTERS SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: NONE KNOWN FINANCIALS: PERSONNEL = $40,572; FRINGE = $32,327; TRAVEL = $3,208; SUPPLIES = $653