Southern Plant Diagnostic Network
In response to concerns about bioterrorist activities that could affect our nation’s crops and food supply, the USDA-CSREES created a National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) consisting of experts from the nation’s land-grant universities. The network provides a cohesive distribution system to quickly detect, identify, and report pests that have been deliberately or accidentally introduced into agricultural and natural ecosystems. The network also communicates with the USDA-APHIS, the State Departments of Agriculture, EDEN and the private sector.
The Southern Plant Diagnostic Network
The Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) is one of the keys to the national effort to protect agriculture. It is one of five regions in the National Plant Diagnostic Network. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (which serves as the hub), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, connected via a central data archive for all of the regions. The four other regional centers and their locations are: the Northeast (Cornell University), North Central (Michigan State University), Great Plains (Kansas State University), and Western (University of California, Davis).
The mission of this network is to:
- Maintain and improve a secure, regional, web-linked network and database for the early detection and diagnosis of plant health problems.
- Implement rapid and accurate diagnosis, management, and response strategies.
- Provide leadership and training to diagnosticians and first detectors.
- Extend and support sound public policies.
Despite extensive monitoring by federal and state agencies, new pests enter the U.S. every year. The SPDN established a “First Detector” network to monitor for exotic pests or unusual pest outbreaks. First Detectors can subscribe to an electronic advisory system that provides warnings and information concerning pest outbreaks. First Detectors receive training on procedures for reporting pest problems and techniques for identifying pests of high economic or environmental impact.
First Detectors are an integral component of identifying and preventing pest problems and include:
- Cooperative Extension Service Personnel
- Crop Consultants
- Growers
- Master Gardeners
- Pesticide Applicators
- Other Industry Personnel
- General Public
