Continue and expand mdar's efforts to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly (lycorma delicatula) in massachusetts

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources a $350,000 cooperative agreement on July 1, 2026, to continue and expand efforts to control spotted lanternfly infestations across Massachusetts under APHIS plant pest and disease surveillance programs.

The award funds survey and rapid response activities targeting spotted lanternfly populations, which have grown exponentially since the first known Massachusetts infestation in 2021 and now number 112 established populations statewide. MDAR will conduct treatments of new and existing infestations, execute rapid response to reports and delineation of new finds, issue Notices of Abatement to owners of affected agricultural properties, and deliver outreach and education to property owners with confirmed infestations. These activities aim to slow potential spread of spotted lanternfly to other areas of the state and bordering states.

Deliverables include survey reports tracked through field maps, a maintained inventory of Notices of Abatement issued during the performance year, and treatment records documenting acreage treated, products used, and application dates. Performance runs through June 30, 2027, with work conducted in Massachusetts. The intended beneficiaries include forest nursery and landscape stakeholders, grape and orchard industries, agrotourism operations, and the general public throughout Massachusetts and New England who depend on agricultural resources and outdoor recreation.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to continue and expand mdar's efforts to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly (lycorma delicatula) in massachusetts. Massachusetts has had known infestations of SLF since 2021. Each year, the number of infestations has increased exponentially; as of this writing, mdar has found 112 established populations of spotted lanternfly (SLF) in the commonwealth.

Activities

Treatments of new and existing populations. Rapid response to reports of new finds of SLF. Rapid response when delineating areas of new infestations. Prompt issuance of the issuance of regulatory documents notices of abatement (NOA) to owners of agricultural properties in or abutting known SLF infestations. Outreach and education to owners of properties that are positive for SLF. These actions will ensure that mdar responds to SLF more quickly and efficiently than IT has been able to, given current resources. A more rapid response will result in slowing the potential spread of SLF to other areas of the state or to bordering states. Deliverables and expected outcomes: survey/reports: reports and the results of the reports will be recorded and tracked. Survey will be tracked using field maps. Mdar will maintain a list of noas that were issued during the year. Treatment: mdar will maintain information relative to the number of acres that were treated, product(s) used, and when applications were made. Intended beneficiary(IES): this work is protecting the agricultural resources of massachusetts and all of new england including but not limited to forest nursery and landscape stakeholders, grape and orchard industry, agrotourism industries in the state, and the general public. 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: none