Provide funding to texas department of agriculture to conduct mission-related goals, objectives, and anticipated accomplishments as well as the approach for conducting citrus-based and nursery-based…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Texas Department of Agriculture $575,720 on January 1, 2026, under a cooperative agreement to conduct citrus-based and nursery-based inspections and surveys in Texas.

TDA will deploy five full-time Citrus Health Response Program inspectors to monitor citrus propagative and retail nurseries across the Gulf Coast and Lower Rio Grande quarantined areas and surrounding regions for Asian Citrus Psyllid, Citrus Greening, and Citrus Canker. The inspectors will survey designated areas to detect early presence of these pests, collect monitoring data to document freedom from disease and pest concern, and conduct commercial nursery inspections to mitigate the spread of Citrus Greening and Citrus Canker. The work supports the state's broader citrus pest surveying efforts in Texas.

Performance period runs January 1 through December 31, 2026, with place of performance in Texas. The obligated amount is $575,720, with cost breakdown of $252,000 for personnel, $71,618 for fringe benefits, $30,000 for vehicle expenses (maintenance and fuel), and $50,000 for sample collection and analysis. The intended beneficiaries include the State of Texas, the citrus industry, the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Sam Houston State University, and the Texas Forest Industry.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to provide funding to texas department of agriculture to conduct mission-related goals, objectives, and anticipated accomplishments as well as the approach for conducting citrus-based and nursery-based inspections.

Activities

The cooperator conducting surveys and commercial nursery inspections texas department of agriculture (TDA) is seeking assistance to continue efforts in mitigating the spread of citrus greening (CG) and citrus canker (CC) by inspecting citrus propagative and retail nurseries to monitor for asian citrus pysllid (ACP), citrus greening (CG), and citrus canker (CC), and will also survey areas within and texas department of agriculture (TDA) will build upon citrus pest surveying efforts in texas. Citrus health response program (CHRP) inspectors will be assigned in the gulf coast and lower RIO grande quarantined areas of texas surrounding quarantined areas for citrus greening (CG) and citrus canker (CC). Deliverables and expected outcomes: to survey and detect E arly on any targeted pest of concern. Collection of data will be kept in order to show freedom of these pest of concern. Intended beneficiary(IES): state of texas, texas department of agriculture, citrus industry, texas nursery and landscape association, SAM houston state university and texas forest industry and PPQ subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a; cost analysis: personnel $252,000 (5 full time); fringe $71,618; vehicle expense $30,000 (maintenance and fuel); contractual $50,000 (SAMPLES)