The main goal for this cooperative program is to continue strengthening a state-wide network of cooperators that will help identify exotic pest threats, determine and implement the most effective…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry $113,348 on July 1, 2026, under a Cooperative Agreement to conduct exotic pest surveillance and detection across Louisiana through the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program.

LDAF will plan and implement five commodity and forest pest surveys during the fiscal year: the Citrus Commodity Survey, Cotton Seed Bug survey, Sudden Oak Death (SOD) survey, Forest Pest Survey, and Solanaceous Commodity Survey. LDAF will also operate the Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) Regulatory Program with confirmed nursery protocol oversight. As the State Supervisory Committee (SSC) primary contact for CAPS in Louisiana, LDAF will prepare work and financial plans aligned with national CAPS guidelines, coordinate delimiting surveys when positive pests are detected, and assist APHIS during pest outbreak responses. LDAF will continue hosting the annual State CAPS Committee meeting and strengthen coordination with Louisiana State University and APHIS officials.

The award covers the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with performance in Louisiana. The intended beneficiaries include all Louisiana residents, citrus producers, forest industry participants, nursery and landscape industry operators, and fruit and vegetable producers. No subrecipient awards are anticipated.

Activities

The objective for ldaf for FY 2026 is to plan and implement four surveys and one regulatory program. The five (5) surveys are: citrus commodity (CCS), cotton seed BUG, sudden OAK death (SOD), forest pest survey (FPS) and the solanaceous commodity survey (SCS). The regulatory program is the sudden OAK death (phytophthora ramorum) regulatory program, confirmed nursery protocol. Another objective for ldaf will be to continue hosting our annual meeting of the state caps committee and strengthen the existing relationships between louisiana state university [LSU] and aphis officials, which are essential for the caps program to function properly. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the SSC is the primary contact for the caps program in the state of louisiana. The SSC will prepare all work and financial plans in accordance with the national caps guidelines and with input from the sphd, PSS and spro. The SCC will coordinate delimiting surveys when positive pests are found according to the national caps survey plan. The SCC will also assist PPQ during pest outbreaks or responses. Intended beneficiary(IES): all louisiana residents, louisiana citrus producers, louisiana forest industry, louisiana nursery and landscape industry and fruit and vegetable producers. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: no subrecipient awards are anticipated. Cost analysis: personnel state survey coordinator @ =$64,500.00; fringe benefits @ 44.7%=28 ,832.00. Travel (meetings, air fare lodging, transportation, per diem, vehicle and mileage)=$2,530.00. Contractual=$480.00.