CAPS Corn

A primary objective of the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program is to safeguard our nation's food and environmental security from exotic pests that threaten our production and ecological systems. The purpose of this project is to coordinate Kentucky's CAPS program, the State CAPS Committee, and act as liaison with the Kentucky PPQ Office; work with other state, county, federal, and public entities to manage cooperative pest programs and to further the Homeland Security Initiative by protecting our food production and natural resources from exotic pests and bioterrorism. Funds from the CAPS program will enable these objectives to be accomplished through hiring independent contractors to conduct survey work, funding infrastructure improvements, and providing the supplies necessary to create training materials for surveyors and educational materials for the public. Funds will partially support permanent full-time University of Kentucky personnel who will devote work time to CAPS projects. The State Survey Coordinator will also be partially supported by these funds and will be involved in coordinating and training surveyors and University of Kentucky personnel, public outreach, and ensuring quality and timeliness of entry of survey generated data into an APHIS approved database.