This project, which aligns with goal 5, outreach and education of the FY2026 plant protection act, is part of a regional multi-year public awareness campaign aimed at communicating the threat that…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources a $212,099 cooperative agreement on June 1, 2026, under the Plant Protection Act's Goal 5 outreach and education initiative to fund a regional public awareness campaign addressing invasive forest pests.

The recipient will arrange in-person and online training courses for high-priority stakeholders including green industry and municipal staff, conduct in-person outreach tabling at events throughout Massachusetts, and organize an online bioblitz event to encourage reporting of invasive pests and pathogens. The recipient will develop new materials as needed, create and expand content for a pest blog and monthly newsletter, and launch an "Ask the Expert" series on the pest blog featuring public questions solicited through the newsletter, events, and other venues. The recipient will continue partnerships with organizations such as UMass Extension and the Don't Move Firewood campaign to explore shared resources and collaborative project opportunities. The award aims to increase the ability of the green industry, municipalities, utilities, land managers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts to prepare for, report, and manage pest infestations; improve public understanding of pest consequences and early detection importance; grow pest newsletter subscribers; and sustain or increase impressions on pest-themed social media. Intended beneficiaries include Massachusetts farms, wineries, and agricultural businesses.

The period of performance runs through May 31, 2027, with work performed in Massachusetts.

Activities

The cooperator will arrange in-person or online training courses for high-priority stakeholders (including green industry and municipal staff) and other target audiences. Disseminate outreach for a variety of audiences through in-person tabling at events throughout the state. Organize an online "bioblitz" event to encourage reporting of invasive pests and pathogens and their host plants. Develop new materials as needed. Create content and build audience for our pest blog and monthly pest newsletter. Start an "ask the expert" series published on our pest blog with questions from the public solicited through our newsletter, events, and other venues. While continuing partnerships with other groups performing related work (umass extension, DON't move firewood, etc.) to explore opportunities to share resources and/or collaborate on projects deliverables and expected outcomes: increased ability of the green industry, municipalities, utilities, land managers, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, etc. To prepare for, report, and/or manage infestations of pests and pathogens, improved public understanding of the consequences of pest infestations, when to report pest finds, how to manage pests that are spreading, and why early detection of forest pests is important, an increased number of subscribers to our pest newsletter, and sustained/increased impressions on our pest-themed social media account postings. Intended beneficiary(IES): massachusetts farms, wineries, and agrobusinesses who would be impacted should invasive pests become established. Also, the citizens of massachusetts and visitors to the state who enjoy outdoor recreation and agrotourism. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: n/a