1. Safeguarding American Agriculture and Natural Resources
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Plant Protection and Quarantine

2. Our Mission Safeguarding U.S. Agriculture and Natural Resources
To ensure an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply
To strengthen the marketability of U.S. agriculture
To preserve U.S. ecosystems and protect against invasive species

3. PPQ’s Goal
“…mitigating pest risks, domestically and abroad, through exclusion, intensive surveillance, early detection, and containment of pests and diseases before they can spread.”
— Dr. Richard Dunkle
Former PPQ Deputy Administrator

4. Who We Are
We are a diverse range of professionals dedicated to conserving, protecting, and enhancing American agriculture.
From botanists to virologists, accountants to writers, we’re all part of a historic tradition and a challenging future.

5. What We Do Keep foreign plant pests out of the United States
Document the presence of plant pests within the United States
Ensure safe agricultural trade by removing unjustified pest-related trade barriers
Detect, control, or eradicate foreign plant pests

6. Why We Keep Out Foreign Pests
More than 6,500 nonnative species are established in the United States.
More than 900 or 1/7 of these species are economically or environmentally harmful.
Harmful nonnative species cost billions of dollars in control or loss of marketable goods.
Harmful nonnative species affect agriculture, forestry, human health, and tourism.

7. How We Keep Out Foreign Pests
Establish risk-based import regulations and policies for agricultural commodities (e.g., produce, plants, craft products)
Inspect and treat agricultural commodities for pests in their country of origin prior to export to the United States
At inspection stations, inspect propagative material imported into the United States, taking appropriate action when pests are detected

8. How We Ensure Safe Agricultural Trade
Establish import regulations and policies for goods imported into the United States
Issue import and interstate movement permits for plant pests
Review plant health certificates issued by exporting countries for imported goods
Monitor trade of endangered or threatened species
Issue plant health certificates for agricultural goods exported from the United States

9. How We Detect, Control, or Eradicate Plant Pests and Diseases
Excluding foreign pests, when possible, is our goal.
If barriers fail, early detection of the pest is the next best strategy.
Early detection assures
Faster and cheaper control
Availability of more control strategies
Greater possibility of success

10. Elements of Pest Response Program
Survey (Where are the pests?)
Identification (What are they?)
Regulation to prevent spread
Bans movement of materials with a quarantine
Restricts movement of materials through permits
Control or eradication
Host removal
Pesticides
Agricultural production practices
Biological control
Sterile insect release

11. Some Ongoing Emergency Programs
Karnal bunt
Fungal disease of wheat detected in Arizona, California, and Texas
Citrus canker
Bacterial disease of citrus detected in Florida
Exotic fruit flies
Agricultural pests threatening more than 250 U.S. crops
Asian longhorned beetle
Wood-boring insect threatening the survival of hardwood trees

12. Asian Longhorned Beetle
Wood-boring insect native to China
Hitch-hiked to United States in wooden pallets and crates
Cause of destruction of more than
7,156 trees in New York City
1,770 trees in Chicago
461 trees in Jersey City, NJ
Many trees in Worcester, MA

13. Our Partners in ALB Response
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service
State Departments of Agriculture
Local governments where infestations occur

14. PPQ Structure Each state has a State Plant Health Director.
There are two regional offices. Raleigh, NC (Eastern Region) and Ft. Collins, CO (Western Region).
National HQ is in Riverdale, MD.

15. PPQ Domestic Programs Noxious Weeds (regulate Federal Noxious Weeds)
Forest Pests – Gypsy Moth, Pine Shoot Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, Sirex noctilio, Phytophthora ramorum, etc.
Nematodes: Golden Nematode in NY, Potato Cyst Nematode in ID.
Biological Control
Imported Fire Ant
Citrus Diseases
Cotton Pests

16. Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS)
Our main exotic pest survey.
Our contribution to Homeland Defense.
Focus is on looking for pests not known to occur.
In past years was pest specific – now moving to more commodity-based surveys.
Work closely with state departments of ag to do the work.

17. Contact Information
State Plant Health Directors are always a good first start.
Eastern Region Domestic Sr. Program Manager: Billy Newton
Western Region Domestic Sr. Program Manager: Tim McNary

18. For More Information
Please visit our Web site at