Cooperative Agreement AP26PPQFO000C439

AWARD PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF A STATE SURVEY COORDINATOR (SSC) TO PLAN, EXECUTE, AND OVERSEE PEST SURVEILLANCE AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE STATE SURVEY COORDINATOR SSC WILL ALSO DELIVER EXOTIC PEST OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE. THIS WORK WILL SEEK TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF PLANT PESTS THAT CAN DAMAGE MASSACHUSETTS' AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS AND NATURAL AREAS. SURVEILLANCE WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR PESTS OF THE FOLLOWING COMMODITIES: NURSERY & RETAIL PLANTS, OAK, AND OTHER FORESTRY PRODUCTS AFFECTED BY EXOTIC BARK BEETLES AND WOOD BORERS. OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT PESTS SUCH AS SPOTTED LANTERNFLY AND ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PEST SURVEYS WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE ACCORDING TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PEST SURVEY NURSERY AND RETAIL PLANT PEST SURVEY WORK PLAN. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL BE CONDUCTED BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON. PAMPHLETS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS WILL BE PROVIDED TO STATE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MADE TO VARIOUS GROUPS, AND INFORMATION BOOTHS WILL BE STAFFED AT SEVERAL LARGE GATHERINGS.DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: PRESENCE / ABSENCE DATA FOR EXOTIC PESTS OF COMMODITIES AND NATURAL RESOURCES IMPORTANT TO MASSACHUSETTS AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. THIS DATA WILL HELP FACILITATE SAFE TRADE AND LEAD TO EARLY DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE TO EXOTIC PESTS THAT THREATEN OVERALL PLANT HEALTH. OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL RESULT IN MORE RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF EXOTIC PESTS WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SPREAD INTO UNINFESTED AREAS. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): MASSACHUSETTS NURSERIES AND BUSINESSES WHO PRODUCE NURSERY STOCK. THE WOOD PRODUCTS AND CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS IN MASSACHUSETTS WILL ALSO BENEFIT BECAUSE THIS WORK COULD LEAD TO EARLY DETECTION OF EXOTIC PESTS THAT MAY DAMAGE FORESTS AND TIMBER SPECIES IN THE STATE. AND FINALLY, THE CITIZENS OF MASSACHUSETTS AND VISITORS TO THE STATE WHO ENJOY OUTDOOR RECREATION AND AGRO-TOURISM. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: N/A