The primary objective of the exotic wood borer/bark beetle (EWBB) survey is to monitor identified high-risk areas for introduced wood boring insects that threaten vermont's forests

The forest and wood products industries in vermont (including maple sugaring) employ 10,000 people and create $1.4 billion in output. Forests are also crucial ecosystems for multitudes of native species and they provide important recreation opportunities for our communities/ visitors. This survey effort allows state and federal agencies to integrate risk information and work to protect these forest resources. The EWBB survey focuses on some areas most at risk of introduction of conifer/hardwood pests such as sawmills, firewood operations and chip yards. The financial assistance provided by PPA 7721 allows US to expand our normally limited pest survey capabilities to this important target pest group that is not otherwise reached by the cooperative agricultural pest survey (CAPS) program .activities to be performed a total of 32 traps will be set across 8 vermont counties at 8 identified high-risk locations. Collections will take place every 2 W eeks for a total of 7 visits to each trap. 224 samples will be collected and sent to the carnegie institute of natural history for screening and identification. Deliverables and expected outcomes:the cooperator seeks to conduct a program which is expected to result in: •the determination of whether the target pests identified in this work plan are present in the state of vermont. •providing data that will aid a national effort to track patterns of new species introductions and infestations throughout the U.S. And to identify possible pathways for these introductions. •gathering information regarding the presence or absence of these pests which will assist in future decisions regarding surveys and outreach. •early detection of a target pest, should IT be present. Intended beneficiary(IES): vermont agency of AG, food and markets will compose a summary and results of the survey to share with industry and cooperators, and CAPS coordinator will input survey data into national agriculture pest information system (NAPIS) .subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a. Cost categories: personnel: 16,018; fringe benefits: 6,559; travel: $4,000; supplies: $865; other: $200; indirect cost: $4,146