The purpose of the 2026 asian citrus psyllid (ACP) detector DOG program award is to continue the work of development and implementation of the use of detector dogs in the detection of ACP within…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Canine Detection Services a $400,000 Cooperative Agreement on June 1, 2026, to continue development and implementation of detector dogs for identifying Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in residential and commercial citrus trees in Arizona. The award funds the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The recipient will conduct canine-assisted ACP scouting surveys in commercial and residential settings following existing protocols, working in coordination with the USDA and Arizona State Department of Agriculture. Surveys will respond to requests from pest control districts assessing area-wide treatment effectiveness and from growers seeking enhanced pest monitoring. Deliverables include completion of training for two new ACP detector canines and provision of one canine team (handler and two dogs) based in Yuma, Arizona, with capability to service other citrus-producing areas statewide. The team will achieve a canine accuracy rate greater than 80 percent (productive alerts where ACP are visually confirmed). The recipient will also provide citrus seedlings, vials, and mesh screen for training aids, with seedlings purchased from Arizona growers and training set up at the USDA Yuma office.

Expected outcomes include identification of residential sites in high-risk pathways and the commercial-residential interface containing low levels of ACP, increased high-priority ACP sampling opportunities, and increased participation in area-wide treatments by locating ACP on ranches of growers without suspected infestations.

Period of performance runs from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027. Place of performance is Arizona.

Expected outcomes

� identify residential sites in high-risk pathways containing extremely low levels of ACP. � identify residential sites in the commercial-residential interface containing low levels of ACP. � increase opportunities for high priority sampling of ACP. � increase participation in area-wide treatments by locating ACP on ranches of growers that do not believe they have ACP. Intended beneficiary(IES): a. Arizona citrus producers; b. Arizona residential citrus owners; c. The overall plant health of southwestern citrus industry. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none. Financials: personnel (manager, canine handlers & techs, logistics) = $172,764; fringe = $17,276; travel (mileage, per diem, vehicle use/maintenance) = $86,820; supplies (canine consumables, training aids, kennels) $11,622; contractual (canine training for ACP) = $75,154; indirect = $36,364