The purpose of the project is to slow the expansion of spotted lanternfly into other areas of the state and country

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture a $4.095 million cooperative agreement on July 1, 2026, to implement spotted lanternfly control and survey operations across Pennsylvania.

The award funds statewide detection surveys, insecticide applications at high-risk dispersal sites including railyards, trucking yards, trailer switching facilities, and interstate freight transfer warehouses, and coordination with USDA and universities on research activities. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspectors will conduct visual surveys and circle trap placement in areas without known spotted lanternfly populations, apply contact and systemic pesticides to properties posing dispersal risk, work with affected businesses on quarantine compliance through permit training and inspections, and administer program coordination including meetings with local and federal officials, public response, community training, and operational reporting. The program targets slowing spotted lanternfly expansion to prevent long-range pest movement and mitigate social and economic impacts to grape growers, other agricultural industries, and the public.

The cooperative agreement runs through June 30, 2027, with work performed in Pennsylvania.

Activities

Properties posing a high-risk of long-distance pest dispersal will be treated with an appropriate IPM strategy likely to include the application of contact insecticides and systemic pesticides. Visual survey and circle trap placement will be focused on areas not known to have current SLF populations and in areas where we are assisting with research projects with USDA and/or universities. PDA inspectors will work with affected businesses to ensure compliance with the quarantine through permit training, will perform inspections and compliance work, and will perform pesticide applications as needed. PDA will administer the grant, coordinate the program activities, meet with local officials, meet with federal officials, respond to public reports, provide training to affected communities, coordinate/assist with research activities, and report on findings and operational progress. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the cooperator seeks to conduct a program which is expected to result in: a statewide detection survey to identify and respond to new populations. Control activity at or adjacent to railyards, trucking yards, trailer switching yard, interstate freight transfer warehouses, and similar locations that pose a high risk of long-distance dispersal of the pest. Assist USDA as needed with control measures at airports and shipping ports. The expected benefits of this collaborative approach would be to slow the rate of spread of SLF by limiting its population along transportation pathways through control operations. Intended beneficiary(IES): this project will support the green industry, other agricultural industries, and growers by reducing spotted lanternfly populations and by assisting with education and best management practices to prevent long-distance transport of the pest and to minimize crop damage. Control activity at railyards, trucking yards, trailer switching yard, interstate freight transfer warehouses, and similar locations will aid in preventing SLF introduction to new states. This project will also provide outreach and additional research to stakeholders at risk for SLF. Subrecipient activities, if known or speci fied at the time of award: N/a