Pest Detection |
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The pest detection program protects America’s agricultural and ecological resources by insuring the early detection of harmful or economically significant plant pests and weeds that occur naturally, or are accidentally or intentionally introduced into the United States. A strong national domestic agricultural pest detection system provides a continuum of surveillance from offshore pre-clearance programs through port inspections to surveys in rural and urban sites across the country.
While most plant pest introductions occur accidentally as a consequence of increased global travel and trade, acts of biological terrorism which threaten the United States' agricultural and natural resources are a growing concern. Plant pests, weeds, and diseases are all potential agents of bioterrorism.
The first line of defense against the entry of harmful plant pests and weeds into the United States is through inspection of commodities, conveyances, and passenger baggage. These inspections are conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at sea ports, airports, and land border crossings. PPQ provides training to CBP and expertise to identify pests that can not be identified at a given port.
The second line of defense is through surveys targeted at specific pests, accomplished primarily under the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program in which USDA funding is provided through cooperative agreements with state departments of agriculture and universities. Domestic pest detection and survey activities have traditionally included exotic fruit fly trapping and tracking the occurrence of domestic plant pests such as imported fire ant, gypsy moth Japanese beetle and witchweed. Other activities have included various exotic plant pests, diseases, and weed national surveys and some pest detection activities to help meet various export requirements of foreign countries.
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News and Information
- The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey: Detecting Plant Pests and Weeds Nationwide (PDF)
- Draft CAPS Volunteer Guidelines (PDF; 591 Kb)
- PPQ Safeguarding Review
- Pest Tracker (National Agriculture Pest Information System)
- 2008 Farm Bill: Plant Pest and Disease Management
and Disaster Prevention Provision (PDF; 233 Kb) - Pest Identification Notification to States (PDF; 49 Kb)
Committees
References
- CAPS Pest Lists
- CAPS National Survey Guidelines
- Commodity Reference Guides
- Mini-Pest Risk Assessments
- NAPPFAST
Contact:
Dr. Matthew Royer, Director
Associate Director, Emergency and Domestic Programs
Telephone: 301-734-3769
E-mail: Matthew.H.Royer@aphis.usda.gov
John Bowers, National Survey Coordinator (CAPS)
Telephone: 301-734-3658
E-mail: John.Bowers@aphis.usda.gov