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Farm Bill Goal I: Survey and Analysis

2013 Program Directed P. ramorum Survey Criteria

Revised January 2020

The P. ramorum surveys will be strategic and aimed at filling gaps in our knowledge about the 

distribution of the pathogen and its risk to the natural environment. The goal of the P. ramorum 

survey is to protect native biodiversity and natural resources of states with high risk environments, 

specifically in states currently not regulated for P. ramorum. To facilitate this goal, the objectives 

of the Farm Bill National Survey of P. ramorum are to:

 survey nurseries that ship P. ramorum host plants interstate, particularly the high risk genera 

(Camellia, Rhododendron, Viburnum, Pieris, Kalmia) as these nurseries may ship to areas 

considered to be at high risk to disease (e.g. SOD-like) outbreak,

 survey propagation, wholesale and broker nurseries containing P. ramorum host plants, 

particularly the high risk genera (Camellia, Rhododendron, Viburnum, Pieris, Kalmia) that 

are located in states with areas considered to be at high risk to disease (e.g. SOD- like) 

outbreak, and,

 survey the environment adjacent to nurseries with a history of P. ramorum detection (in 

plants, soil, water and streams)

Base the cooperative agreement workplan on the following criteria:

a. In states that contain areas that are at risk environments, priority must be given to 

those nurseries containing host plants located within or adjacent to those 

environments, such as forests, open spaces or greenbelts containing host genera.

b. At least one third of the nurseries surveyed are inter-state shippers (propagators, 

wholesalers, or retailers) of host plants. The remainder is non-interstate shipping 

nurseries that propagate or wholesale hosts plants, then intrastate retailers.

c. Up to 20% of the total allocation can be utilized to survey the environment around the 

perimeter (within 10 meters) of nurseries with a history of P. ramorum detection.

d. Up to 10% of the total allocation can be utilized for pre-survey research on nursery 

establishments within the state to determine which nurseries meet the selection 

criteria.

e. Collect information in each nursery utilizing the P. ramorum Nursery Survey IPHIS

template (contact your P. ramorum Operations Manager for details). Input these data into 

IPHIS and/or provide to the P. ramorum Operations Manager via spreadsheet or word 

document. In addition, submit a Status Report (template provided when cooperative 

agreement is signed) twice a year (during the middle and end of the award period).
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f. Samples collected from this and other APHIS funded surveys that are suspect positive 

must be forwarded to APHIS (or a NPPLAP accredited lab) for further testing.

Samples confirmed positive must be reported to the SPRO/SPHD, then to the P. 

ramorum Operations Manager within 24 hours of the SPRO/SPHD notification.

g. Utilize the plant and water sampling instructions in the Phytophthora ramorum Program 

Manual

For further information please contact your State Plant Health Director and the P. ramorum

National Operations Manager:

Betsy Randall-Schadel

National Operations Manager 

Phone: 919.855.7544