The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program supports APHIS’ goal of safeguarding U.S. agricultural and environmental resources by ensuring that new introductions of harmful plant pests and diseases are detected as soon as possible, before they have a chance to cause significant damage. The mission of the CAPS program is to provide a survey profile of exotic plant pests in the United States deemed to be of regulatory significance through early detection and surveillance activities. These efforts are accomplished by involving stakeholders and the scientific community, and leveraging efforts by other Agencies in USDA, government entities, State departments of agriculture, universities, and industry partners. APHIS and its State cooperators carry out surveys for high-risk pests through a network of cooperators in the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program.
The Vermont CAPS program conducts science-based state surveys targeted at specific exotic plant pestsidentified as threats to U.S. agriculture and/or the environment. These activities are accomplished under USDA funding that is provided through cooperative agreements with the state Agency of Agriculture. Surveys conducted through the CAPS Program represent a second line of defense against the entry of harmful plant pests and weeds.
CAPS surveys target high-risk hosts and commodities, gather data about target pests, and establish better baseline data about pests that were recently introduced in the United States. The mission of the CAPS program is to provide a survey profile of exotic plant pests in the United States deemed to be of regulatory significance through early detection and surveillance activities.
Program Objectives:
- Detect exotic pests before they can become well established
- Facilitate the export of U.S. Agricultural products
- Collect and manage survey data from PPQ cooperative programs
In Vermont, the Agency currently conducts the following surveys in cooperation with the CAPS program: Nursery Pest Survey, Pine Commodity Survey, Christmas Tree Pest Survey. To ensure CAPS program goals are met, at least 60% of the pests targeted in these surveys are chosen from the National Priority Pest List. For more information on the types of pests targeted please visit USDA-APHIS’ National Priority Pest List.