Throughout the 1-year project period, the washington state department of agriculture will work to improve recognition and reporting of high-consequence federal and state priority invasive species

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Washington State Department of Agriculture a Cooperative Agreement worth $251,458 on July 1, 2026, under the agency's invasive species management grant program to improve recognition and reporting of high-consequence federal and state priority invasive species throughout Washington state.

Over the one-year performance period through June 30, 2027, WSDA will conduct awareness and engagement activities targeting spotted lanternfly, invasive hornets, spongy moth, Japanese beetle, Asian longhorned beetle, citrus longhorned beetle, and other plant pests on the National Priority Pest List. Deliverables include development of key information materials on the threat invasive pests pose to Washington agriculture and environment; stakeholder updates; display banners; invasive pest booklets, posters, magnets, and temporary tattoos; a "Don't Let Pest Hitchhike" campaign; short-term "Pest Pop-Up" events at wineries, cider farms, breweries, and seasonal fruit stands to engage business customers; public mobilization to report spotted lanternfly and Tree-of-Heaven; and targeted outreach to railway industries and other high-risk introduction pathways. Success will be tracked through engagement metrics, interactions, and public participation. Intended beneficiaries include farmers, shippers, exporters, importers, and tribal entities. No sub-recipients are identified at award.

Activities

1) develop and update key information to share how invasive pests post a serious threat to washington's agriculture and environment; 2) mobilize the public, first detectors, and industry to take an active role in looking for and reporting high-consequence invasive plant pests, especially through high-risk pathways and in high-risk areas; 3) increase public acceptance and support of plant pest and disease eradication programs to eradicate if necessary. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the cooperator seeks to conduct a program which is expected to result in: stakeholder updates; display banners; invasive pest booklets, posters, magnets, temporary tattoos; campaigns (DON't let pest hitchhike); "pest POP-up" - short-term events stationed at a unique location to engage with select business customers (tasting rooms at wineries, cider farms, and breweries, along with seasonal fruit stands); get the public to look for spotted lantern fly and submit new reports of tree-of-heaven; increase industry awareness and investment in employee identification and reporting training; improve ability to communicate with high-risk points along the introduction pathway (railway industries specifically). Intended beneficiary(IES): farmers, shippers, exporters, importers, tribal entities/sovereign nations. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a financials: personnel = $122,010; fringe = $43,527; travel = $23,096; supplies = $600; other = $27,843; indirect = $34,382