Increase the ability to identify isolated infestations of spongy moth that occur as a result of human assisted spread and to assist in determining the major routes of artificial spread

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $100,100 Cooperative Agreement to the Gypsy Moth Slow The Spread Foundation Inc. on July 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to identify isolated spongy moth infestations resulting from human-assisted spread and determine major routes of artificial dispersal.

The foundation distributes funds to four participating states—Illinois, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin—to execute five regulatory objectives: identify, classify, and catalogue high-risk dispersal sites (campgrounds, parks, tourist attractions, large commercial construction sites, shipping and receiving companies, and log timber and lumber processing facilities); conduct public awareness campaigns through educational displays, press releases, and informational materials to reduce artificial spread; establish and utilize compliance agreements to facilitate commerce; monitor interstate and intrastate movement of spongy moth regulated articles; and record program data using protocols mutually established with USDA APHIS PPQ. Illinois emphasizes inspection and compliance of regulated plant industry businesses transporting regulated materials from quarantined to non-quarantined counties.

The period of performance runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with place of performance across the United States. The work protects approximately 898 million acres of susceptible forested land from ecological and economic damage.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to increase the ability to identify isolated infestations of spongy moth that occur as a result of human assisted spread and to assist in determining the major routes of artificial spread.

Activities

The agreement with the slow the spread (STS) foundation, INC. Allows for funds to be transferred to the following states: illinois, minnesota, west virginia, and wisconsin. The STS foundation, INC. Will decide the funding allotments for participating states. Moreover, the participating states agree to complete the five regulatory objectives: identify, classify, and catalogue high-risk sites within the STS program area for future reference. Typical high-risk locations include campgrounds, parks, tourist attractions, large commercial construction sites, shipping and receiving companies, log timber, and lumber processing facilities. These assessments will help to identify the pathways gypsy moths may move and to outline ways to eliminate or minimize that movement. Utilize educational campaigns to assist in reducing the artificial spread for the gypsy moth. Public awareness displays and presentations, press releases, and distribution of informational brochures and handouts will be components of the program. Establish and utilize compliance agreements to facilitate commerce. Monitor the interstate and intrastate movement of gypsy moth regulated articles in participating states. Violations will be processed through a state and/or federal authorities. Record program data based on protocols mutually established by the GM STS foundation and the USDA, aphis, PPQ. Deliverables and expected outcomes: illinois: our emphasis will be on T he inspection and compliance of regulated plant industry businesses that bring regulated materials from quarantined counties into non-quarantined counties. Intended beneficiary: the US forest service estimates that at least 898 million acres of forested land are S usceptible to spongy moth feeding and damage. The spongy moth program protects this vital national resource from the pest's destruction, preserving timber and property values. However, left unchecked, the spread of spongy moths would lead to severe damage to forest trees, irreversibly altering and degrading the forests' ecology, biodiversity, and productivity in impacted areas. Subrecipient AC tivities, if known or specified at the time of award: contracted to states of IL, MN, WV and WI. Large cost categories: contractual: IL department of agriculture: $15,820. MN department of agriculture: $35,000. WV department of agriculture: $21,000. WI department of agriculture: $28,280.