Provide monitoring and survey activities to prevent the spread of plant pests that can be used for regulatory and pest management purposes

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $536,840 to Texas A&M University Kingsville on September 1, 2026, to conduct monitoring and survey activities for plant pests affecting citrus production in Texas through August 31, 2028.

The award funds pest and pathogen surveillance across commercial citrus nurseries in the Houston metropolitan region, including Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, and surrounding counties. Surveillance targets citrus greening, citrus longhorned beetle, witches' broom disease of lime, and other pests listed on the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey National Priority Pest List. Early detection activities support APHIS safeguarding goals and inform regulatory response to prevent establishment and economic losses in Texas's third-largest-by-state citrus sector, which operates over 27,000 acres of commercial production with annual economic impact exceeding $300 million.

Performance activities during the first quarter (September through November 2026) include survey deployment and baseline surveillance establishment, receipt and organization of APHIS survey materials, procurement of field supplies, coordination of access with participating nurseries, deployment of citrus fruit borer traps, and initiation of routine visual surveys for target pests. Early suspect samples will be processed for detection confirmation.

Work is performed in Kingsville, Texas.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to provide monitoring and survey activities to prevent the spread of plant pests that can be used for regulatory and pest management purposes. Justification of project: texas ranks as the third largest citrus-producing state in the united states, with over 27,000 acres of commercial citrus production and an annual economic impact exceeding $300 million. While the lower RIO grande valley remains the core of commercial citrus acreage, the houston metropolitan region, including harris, brazoria, fort bend, and surrounding counties, has seen increased nursery and hobbyist citrus activity, elevating the risk of pest introduction and pathogen spread. Recent challenges-including citrus greening), citrus longhorned beetle, and witches' broom disease of lime -pose significant threats to citrus health and market viability. These pests and pathogens are listed on the cooperative agricultural pest survey national priority pest list, and their early detection is critical to prevent establishment and mitigate economic losses. Surveys targeting these threats support united states department of agriculture - animal plant health inspection service safeguarding goals by enhancing detection capacity and informing regulatory response. Quarter 1 (sept-november 2026): survey deployment and initial monitoring project activities during the first quarter will focus on startup coordination, survey deployment, and establishment of baseline surveillance across commercial citrus nurseries in the houston-area survey region. Major accomplishments will include receiving and organizing united states department of agriculture - animal plant health inspection service survey materials, procuring additional field supplies, coordinating access with participating nurseries, deploying citrus fruit borer traps, and initiating routine visual surveys for citrus longhorned beetle and witches' broom disease of lime (WBDL). Early suspect samples will be processed and submitted for diagnostic confirmation as needed, while baseline survey and geospatial data will be collected for reporting and mapping purposes. Quarter 2 (DEC 2026 -FEB 2027): peak survey and diagnostic processing the second quarter WIL L represent the primary field surveillance period, with intensive monitoring occurring during peak pest activity. Activities will include continued trap servicing and replacement, repeated CLB visual inspections, ongoing WBDL symptom assessments, and submission of suspect samples to united states department of agriculture - animal plant health inspection service diagnostic laboratories. Collected specimens will be sorted, labeled, and screened for identification while survey data are continuously updated for reporting and analysis. Outreach and communication with nursery stakeholders will also continue to support early detection awareness and reporting readiness. Quarter 3 (march 2027-may 2027): survey completion and data entry during the third quarter, field activities will transition toward survey completion and diagnostic confirmation. Remaining traps will be removed from the field, suspect target specimens will be submitted for united states department of agriculture - animal plant health inspection service confirmation, and collected beetles and moth specimens will undergo final identification processing. Survey records, locations, and laboratory findings will be compiled and validated to support pest-free confirmations and regional distribution assessments. Mapping products and preliminary summary analyses will also be developed during this phase. Quarter 4 (june-august 2027): reporting, outreach, and project closeout the final quarter will focus on project reporting, stakeholder communication, and closeout activities. Accomplishments will include CO mpletion of all united states department of agriculture - animal plant health inspection service performance and final reports, submission of finalized survey data to approved data systems, preparation of summary maps and visualizations, and delivery of stakeholder outreach materials or webinars highlighting survey outcomes and regional pest risks. Final project documentation and financial CLO seout activities will also be completed, while project findings will help strengthen future citrus pest preparedness and safeguarding efforts in texas. Deliverables and expected outcomes this project implements a coordinated, commodity-focused survey for invasive citrus pests in commercial citrus nurseries across harris, montgomery, fort bend, brazoria, galveston, chambers, and liberty counties surrounding houston, texas. We will target two high-risk pests from the cooperative agricultural pest survey national priority pest list-anoplophora chinensis (citrus longhorned beetle), gymnandrosoma aurantianum (citrus fruit borer) and candidatus phytoplasma aurantifolia, the causal agent of witches' broom disease of lime, a lethal phytoplasma disease affecting mexican lime and other citrus cultivars -in alignment with plant protection action 7721 goal 1S survey objectives such as early detection in nurseries is critical to prevent establishment and subsequent spread into production groves and residential landscapes. The houston-area nurseries serve as high-traffic distribution hubs for citrus plants, increasing the likelihood of pest movement across county and state lines. A commodity-specific survey will: provide baseline data on pest presence and absence. Support national agriculture pest information system reporting and national safeguarding strategies.enable deoxyribonucleic acid confirmation of phytoplasma pathogens through united states department of agriculture-accredited labs. Facilitate outreach to commercial and hobbyist stakeholders, including master gardeners, urban harvesters, and citrus enthusiast groups. Intended beneficiary(IES): this project will benefit commercial citrus growers, nursery operators, hobbyist citrus owners, and state and federal regulatory agencies by enhancing early detection and monitoring of high risk citrus pests and pathogens that threaten texas's economically significant citrus industry. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award:none