Cooperative Agreement AP26PPQFO000C266

AWARD PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE TEXAS A & M AGRILIFE EXTENSION TO ESTABLISH A CADRE OF VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH SURVEILLANCE AND FIRST RESPONDERS TO PLANT HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES AND THE RELATED ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED THIS PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF CRITICAL PLANT PESTS OR PATHOGEN ISSUES AND TO UTILIZE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS FIRST DETECTORS TO ASSIST US IN SURVEILLANCE FOR THESE EXOTIC PESTS AND PATHOGENS. OUR STRATEGY FOR THE CURRENT PROJECT IS TO CONTINUE IMPROVING THE TEXAS FIRST DETECTOR PROGRAM BY FOCUSING ON MAINTAINING AND UPDATING CURRENT TEXAS FIRST DETECTOR TRAINING MATERIALS AND EXPAND THE 2-3-HOUR OUTREACH AND TRAINING EVENTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF VARIOUS PESTS AND PATHOGENS OF CONCERN TO TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES. DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS, MAINTAIN & UPDATE CURRENT OUTREACH AND AWARENESS RESOURCES FOR CURRENT TEXAS FIRST DETECTORS AND POTENTIAL NEW FIRST DETECTORS. DEVELOP NEW DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: WE ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE PESTS/PATHOGENS OF INTEREST, AND PLAN TO BE FLEXIBLE IN THE EVENT A "NEW" PEST/PATHOGEN COMES OF INTEREST. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TEXAS FIRST DETECTORS THROUGH SHORT TRAINING EVENTS. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF CRITICAL PLANT PEST OR PATHOGEN ISSUES, AND TO UTILIZE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS FIRST DETECTORS TO ASSIST US IN SURVEILLANCE FOR THESE EXOTIC PESTS AND PATHOGENS. THE ENCROACHMENT OF NEW PESTS AND PATHOGENS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE, EVEN IN TEXAS. WE AIM TO MEET THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT ARE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: OBJECTIVE 1: CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS, MAINTAIN & UPDATE CURRENT OUTREACH, AND AWARENESS RESOURCES FOR CURRENT TEXAS FIRST DETECTORS AND POTENTIAL NEW FIRST DETECTORS. OBJECTIVE 2: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TEXAS FIRST DETECTOR THROUGH SHORT TRAINING EVENTS AND PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF CRITICAL PLANT PESTS AND PATHOGENS AND BY EMPOWERING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SERVE AS FIRST DETECTORS WHO CAN ASSIST WITH EARLY SURVEILLANCE FOR EXOTIC THREATS. BY MAINTAINING AND UPDATING TEXAS FIRST DETECTOR TRAINING MATERIALS AND EXPANDING 2-3HOUR OUTREACH AND TRAINING EVENTS, THE PROJECT ENHANCES THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF VOLUNTEERS, EDUCATORS, AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES. ULTIMATELY, THE PROJECT BENEFITS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS, REGULATORY PARTNERS, AND THE BROADER PUBLIC BY STRENGTHENING EARLY WARNING CAPACITY, IMPROVING BIOSECURITY AWARENESS, AND SUPPORTING EFFORT S TO SAFEGUARD PLANT HEALTH AT STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: NONE;