Phytophthora ramorum, a previously unknown forest pathogen, is the causal agent of sudden OAK death (SOD)

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the California Department of Food and Agriculture a $1.3 million Cooperative Agreement on July 1, 2026, to conduct inspection, sampling, certification, and quarantine enforcement for Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death) across regulated California nursery establishments.

CDFA will work with County Agricultural Commissioners to inspect and certify regulated establishments under 7 CFR 301.92, perform trace-forward and trace-back investigations, and ensure that nursery stock and regulated articles shipped interstate from both quarantined and non-quarantined counties are free of P. ramorum. The department will maintain a parallel state interior quarantine, issue phytosanitary advisories, conduct laboratory diagnostics and sample processing, perform DNA testing and identification, and conduct nine county audits to verify the legitimacy of CDFA and CAC cooperative agreements. Where P. ramorum is detected in nurseries, CDFA will ensure eradication or mitigation so that affected stock and conveyance articles are free of the pathogen. Deliverables include identifying the quantity of California-origin regulated articles found positive for P. ramorum in other states and documenting freedom from P. ramorum in nursery stock.

The award covers performance in California with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Activities

Cdfa will work with the county agricultural commissioners (CACS) to perform inspection, sampling and certification of all regulated establishments as directed by 7 CFR 301.92, trace forward and trace back investigations, and ensure the following: a. Nursery stock shipped interstate from non-quarantined counties is free of P. Ramorum. B. Regulated articles, including nursery stock, shipped interstate from the quarantined area are free of P. Ramorum. C. All nursery detections of P. Ramorum are eradicated or its presence mitigated so that nursery stock and other articles for conve yance are free of P. Ramorum in affected establishments. Cdfa will maintain a parallel state interior quarantine, issue phytosanitary advisories, perform lab diagnostics and process lab samples, initiate cooperative agreements, DNA testing and identification. Cdfa will also conduct nine county audits to ensure the legitimacy of cdfa/CAC cooperative agreements. Deliverables and expected outcomes: identify the quantity of california-origin regulated articles found positive for P. Ramorum in other states. Freedom from P.ramorum in nursery stock and other regulated articles as well as through the completion of mitigation measures and adoption of required cultural practices in positive nurseries. Laboratory tests and subsequent results will be used to evaluate the success of cdfa's ability to accomplish the goals and mitigation requirements in qualifying nurseries as stated above. Intended beneficiary(IES): this pathogen causes mortality in certain susceptible, native forest species and can also cause twig and foliar diseases in many ornamental plants, including camellia and rhododendron. The benefits expected from the program include: a. Protection of susceptible, native environments in the U.S. From the artificial introduction of P. Ramorum via california-origin regulated articles .B. Protection of international export markets for U.S.-origin host plants. C. Continued economic viability of california industries that ship regulated articles interstate. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: county agricultural commissioners (CAC) to provide support and enforcement of regulated program activities. DNA sequencing with genewiz LLC, equipment maintenance with gentinge, alliant-remi-tubewriter, life technologies, and hazardous waste will also receive a subcontract. Cost categories: perm and term @various rates = $284,858. Fringe benefits: (perm @ 49.055% and term @ 11%) =$137,019. Travel: (in-state, 8 trips, 4 employees each) = $5,000. Equipment: (fast prep grinder)$8,500. Supplies: (chemicals, lab, operations, field)= $131,540. Contractual: (equipment maintenance, calibration, DNA sequencing, hazard waste, county agreements) $543,191. Other: (facilities, sampling, audits) $38 ,100. Indirect cost: (on personnel and fringe): $151,792