Navel orangeworm (now), amylois transitella, is a highly destructive insect pest that has caused millions of dollars in economic losses to tree nut crops in california

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded the California Department of Food and Agriculture a cooperative agreement valued at $1.354 million on January 1, 2026, to support sterile insect technique (SIT) operations against navel orangeworm (NOW) in California's tree nut crops.

The recipient performs logistical and quality-control work for APHIS's area-wide NOW control program. Specifically, the California Department of Food and Agriculture receives sterile moth shipments at Bakersfield Airport, transports them to the aerial release base at Shafter Airport, performs quality-control analysis on the insects, holds them overnight in a climate-controlled facility, assists in loading moth magazines onto aerial release aircraft, unloads and cleans aerial release machinery, conducts field trapping, and performs sampling in tree nut fields for damage assessment. The recipient reports regularly to APHIS and industry stakeholders on these activities.

The work runs through December 31, 2026. Place of performance is Arizona. The Cooperative Agreement structure allows APHIS and the California Department of Agriculture to coordinate delivery of SIT as a mating-disruption and control option to minimize NOW damage in pistachio and almond production. Staff hired by CDFA will perform the releases themselves.

Activities

The objectives for the FY26 cooperative agreement, similar to the previous agreement, are to (1) receive moth shipments at the bakersfield airport and transport them to the aerial release base location at the shafter airport, (2) perform QC analysis on the shipment, hold IT overnight in a climate-controlled facility, (3) assist aphis personnel or contractors to load moth magazines onto aerial release craft and subsequently unload and clean aerial release machinery, (4) conduct field trapping, and (5) conduct sampling in tree nut fields for damage assessment. Regular reporting to aphis or to industry, as appropriate and agreed upon, on each of these objectives is also required. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the activities in the now SIT project will allow the USDA, california dept of agriculture (CDFA) and the pistachio and almond industries use of the SIT for now mating disruption and control. The pilot project provided data that the use of SIT for now as an effective management option to minimize now damage in tree nut crops. The now SIT project releases will be performed by staff hired by CDFA. The staff performing the pick-up, loading and quality control activities will be trained in the techniques necessary for conducting the activities to support the pilot project. The environmental scientist, which this year continues to be a post-DOC employee funded through this agreement, will prepare weekly reports of the activities that CDFA will be conducting and will share reports with the USDA and the technical working group. Criteria to evaluate the results and successes of the project will be developed, as will methodology used to determine whether the results and benefits are to be achieved. Intended beneficiary(IES): in california, now is widespread and causes feeding damage to commercial pistachio and almond orchards in the SAN joaquin valley. The release of sterile now will benefit the pistachio and almond growers, as well as the surrounding residential and urban communities and american agriculture. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none known or anticipated at the time of award. Financials: personnel = $593,847; fringe = $323,336; supplies (traps, lures, safety) = $42,602; other (communications, IT, misc) = $58,000; facilities (security, utilities) = $7,000; indirect = $330,002