Eradicate the boll weevil (BW) from commercial cotton grown in the lower RIO grande valley (lrgv) of texas

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $8.005 million Cooperative Agreement to the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc., on October 1, 2025, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The foundation will use the award to fund ultra-low volume malathion chemical purchases, aerial applications of malathion to commercial cotton in the Lower Rio Grande Valley quarantine zones of Texas, and supporting personnel directly engaged in boll weevil eradication work. A portion of funds will also support in-person meeting expenses and Spanish/English interpretation services for the annual binational meeting of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program. The Lower Rio Grande Valley remains the last area in the United States where boll weevil populations persist in commercial cotton production.

The period of performance runs through September 30, 2026. Place of performance is Texas. The expected outcome is complete eradication of boll weevil from all U.S. cotton production, with intended beneficiaries including the U.S. cotton industry, its stakeholders, and jobs related to cotton production and export. No subawards or subrecipients are involved in this award.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to eradicate the boll weevil (BW) from commercial cotton grown in the lower RIO grande valley (lrgv) of texas. The lrgv is the last U.S. Area where BW populations still exist. The best way to eradicate boll weevil, then, is to treat commercial cotton within the quarantine zones of lrgv with malathion. The cooperative agreement with txbwef allows PPQ to fund adequate ULV malathion, aerial applications, and supporting personnel who are executing the actions stated in the signed work plan.

Activities

Txbwef will use the award to support chemical purchases, aerial applications, and supporting personnel costs directly associated with BW eradication efforts. Txbwef will also use a small portion of the funds for in-person meeting expenses and spanish/english interpretation supporting the annual binational meeting of the boll weevil eradication program. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the main outcome of this award is to eradicate BW from all U.S. Cotton production. Intended be neficiary(IES): beneficiaries of the BW eradication program include the U.S. Cotton industry, its stakeholders, and U.S. Jobs related to cotton production and export. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: there are no subawards or SU brecipient from this award.