Syllabus

Lesson 4: Responding to a Suspected Plant Biosecurity Problem

Purpose: By the completion of this lesson, Extension educators will be able to explain how the National Plant Diagnostic Network operates and teach others the appropriate actions to take in response to a suspected plant biosecurity problem.

What you will need to teach others about this topic:

• How the National Plant Diagnostic Network operates in the event of a suspected biosecurity problem

• Initial site response: Notification, technical advice, and obtaining an official diagnosis

• The purpose and resources of the National Agricultural Pest Information System

• Response roles of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)

• Where to access technical training on pest identification, sampling, and submission protocols

Presentations, Readings, and Web Site Reviews:

• National Plant Diagnostics Network: Why its needed, where it is, what it does, how it works

• NPDN Mission Statement

• National Agricultural Plant Information Service Description

• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Welcome Page

• Plant Protection and Quarantine Main Page and PPQ’s pages on Crop Biosecurity, Exotic Pest Detection, and Emergency Response Program

• APHIS/PPQ State Cooperators

Reminder: Each lesson contains links to readings and a complete reference list.

Last Updated:  09/02/2009