The Pest Detection Management team would like to announce the selection of the 2014 CAPS Recognition awards. The following individuals were nominated by their peers and supervisors, and are recognized for their exemplary activities and achievements above and beyond their normal duties in support of the CAPS Program.
‘State Survey Coordinator,Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources,Nominated by Nichole Carrier’,
‘summary’ => ‘Recognizing the need for State Survey Coordinators in the Eastern Plant Board states to be better able to identify exotic moth suspects from CAPS and Farm Bill surveys, Jennifer took the initiative to submit a 2013 Farm Bill suggestion for an “Eastern Regional Taxonomic ID Training”. The suggestion was funded, and working on a very tight timeline due to delayed funding, she located instructors, set up contracts, found free lab space for the training at the University of Massachusetts, and coordinated the content and delivery of the training with broad support from PPQ and MDAR. The “Eastern Regional Taxonomic ID Training” was provided to 20 attendees from nine states July 15-17, 2013. The attendees felt it greatly improved their skills in screening trapped moths for which they survey. Finally, she posted all presentations and notes from the training to the CAPS Collaboration website for others to use.’
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‘State Survey Coordinator,Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry,Nominated by Ted Hardy’,
‘summary’=> ‘Brett significantly expanded CAPS and LDAF-related outreach in Louisiana by adding attendance at statewide arborist seminars, the Farm Bureau Produce Committee and the LSU Open House for nursery professionals to his list of outreach events. He also worked with a state agency to deploy customized pest brochures such as “Don’t Move Firewood” and “Hungry Pest” at all Highway Welcome Station locations throughout the state. His Sudden Oak Death (SOD) work plan for 2013 was deemed “particularly exemplary” by Dr. Stacy Scott who subsequently used it as a standard for SOD work plans. Brett also managed to take on numerous additional duties while continuing to perform all his routine CAPS and Farm Bill duties. When citrus canker was confirmed in Louisiana in 2013, Brett’s assistance was enlisted to respond to this disease threat by responding to citrus homeowner calls. He also modified the Citrus Commodity Survey to add this new pest to the project. Finally, he accompanied Forestry Division employees to remove residential trees confirmed positive for citrus canker and also assisted in recovering and destroying an invasive aquatic weed at a nursery location.’
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‘State Survey Coordinator,Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,Nominated by Richard Gaskalla and Wayne Dixon’,
‘summary’=>’Leroy is the leader of a very extensive CAPS program in Florida. He supervises employees statewide, including six state CAPS positions and 14 staff with the Enhanced Pest Detection at High-Risk Domestic Interdiction Sites and Marina/Canal Systems program funded by the Farm Bill. He also co-coordinates five additional USDA APHIS PPQ positions as part of the Florida CAPS program. Leroy exemplifies leadership as he oversees and coordinates surveys for a host of exotic pests and through participation on multiple state and regional CAPS committees. These surveys have resulted in detections of the cotton seed bug and the Mexican rice borer, and assisted with efforts to eradicate the cotton seed bug. He also was instrumental in survey and inspection activities that led to multiple detections of potato/tomato psyllid arriving on host plants from Mexico. Leroy’s leadership has led to a strong collaborative effort among a very diverse host of cooperators from other federal and state agencies to the Audubon Society and multiple tribes of Native Americans. It should be noted that as much as he works in a coordinator and supervisory capacity, Leroy is a frequent participant in all levels of field work related to surveys and outreach activities.’
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The CAPS Recognition Award consists of a certificate and a Pest Detection silver coin (highly prized and somewhat rare). In lieu of a National CAPS Meeting, the awardees will be publically recognized and the awards presented during the Awards Ceremony following the banquet at the National Plant Board meeting in St. Louis, MO, July 27-31, 2014.
The National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program wishes to recognize outstanding activities and achievements by members of the CAPS community, including State Survey Coordinators, Pest Survey Specialists, State Plant Regulatory Officials, State Plant Health Directors, and other individuals and groups. These individuals or groups (which may include additional cooperators) shall be nominated for work done in support of Pest Detection activities, accomplished in the previous calendar year.
Next year at this time we will be announcing CAPS Recognition awardees for activities and achievements accomplished during 2014. Be aware of the work and distinctions that set your SPHD, SPRO, PSS, SSC, or other individuals and groups apart from the rest, and nominate them for CAPS Recognition next year. More detail appears in Appendix Q of the CAPS 2015 National Survey Guidelines. The next call for nominations will go out in January 2015.