Continued infrastructure development and support for the tribal pest survey specialist are key elements in the 2026 wisconsin tribal cooperative agricultural pest survey (CAPS) request and will…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council Inc. $106,976 in a Cooperative Agreement (AP26PPQFO000C099) on June 25, 2026 for continued infrastructure development and staffing support under the Tribal Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program.

The recipient will employ a Tribal Pest Survey Specialist serving as the primary point of contact for CAPS survey implementation on tribal lands across Wisconsin. The specialist will identify survey locations and equipment needs, coordinate plant pest and disease response activities, participate in Program Protection and Quarantine team meetings and Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council meetings, communicate with other regional survey coordinators to promote methodological uniformity, and distribute public outreach materials to tribal communities. The specialist will work closely with tribal forestry and agriculture programs to identify future survey needs and coordinate with all eleven federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin to expand participation in the program.

The award runs through June 24, 2027 with place of performance in Wisconsin. Expected outcomes include increasing tribal participation in the CAPS program to encompass all eleven federally recognized Wisconsin tribes and strengthening cooperation across agencies at all jurisdictional levels. The assistance type is a Cooperative Agreement.

Activities

Serve as the primary point of contact for caps program surveys through wisconsin tribal conservation advisory council (WTCAC) on tribal lands in wisconsin. Identify survey locations, equipment/supply needs, training, and database reporting requirements necessary to implement survey work plans. Assist in plant pest/disease response activities and planning. Participate in PPQ team meetings, WTCAC meetings, WTCAC sub-committee meetings, and invasive species and forest health committee meetings. Communicate with other sscs/psss to assist in the promotion of regional surveys to enhance uniformity in survey methodologies. Distribute public outreach materials to the tribes and work with WTCAC seasonal staff to develop additional materials as they pertain to the individual tribal communities and WTCAC. WTCAC will also work closely with PPQ team and tribes to fulfill outreach and education requests from tribes. Coordinate with tribal foresters and agriculture programs for future survey work and needs. Continue to seek out partnerships as appropriate, for the tribes and the program to fulfill both WTCAC and aphis-PPQ's goals. Deliverables and expected outcomes: increasing the number of tribes participating in the program to include all eleven federally recognized tribes in wisconsin. Cooperation with other agencies across all levels of jurisdiction and responsibility to integrate detection, response, and public outreach/education activities, including participation in regional plant board and caps meetings. Determining pest targets early helps the PSS and state surveyors to choose the highest-risk pests locally, prioritizing resources used for local survey needs. This allows tribes in wisconsin to evaluate current pest risks and report new pest threats to add to the national caps priority list. Identifying pests with regulatory or trade significance that may affect tribes and the state. Identifying any caps pests with a demonstrated pathway of entry and improving response planning, including resource cataloging, identifying training needs, and conducting such pest response exercises as may be feasible.

Intended beneficiaries

Tribal communities, farmers, orchards, timber industry, foresters, arborists, plant nursery industry, landscapers, firewood producers, hunters/campers/other outdoors recreationists, and members of the general public. This will serve all residents of wisconsin and visitors to the state who benefit from our natural landscape resources. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: administrative and financial reporting services will be contracted to innovative funding LLC for 150 hours at $75/HR. Cost analysis: personnel executive director @ 75 hours $52.00, pest survey specialist & program support @ 1,800 hours $64 ,800.00=$68,700.00; fringe benefits various from 1.35%-7.65%=$20,610.00.travel=$2,330.00. Supplies=$1,200.00. Contractual (support services)=$7,500.00. Other (liability insurance)=$500.00.