SPDN Newsletter July 2004

Are you going to the APS meeting in Anaheim?  Are you an SPDN State Representative?  We invite you to stop by an informal NPDN meeting Monday from noon to 2.  For more information, please link to the PDF here.

Sudden Oak Death Updates:  

• 19 states now have positive test results for Phytophthora ramorum - keep track of your sample costs!  (send a spreadsheet of your sample numbers and the tests conducted to clharmon@ufl.edu for the reimbursement process for trace-forwards)  If you are processing survey samples, make sure to talk to your State Department of Agriculture about funding/billing options.
• For the most recent version of the P. ramorum diagnostic SOP, visit the Pest Alert page, or link directly to the PDF at   http://spdn.ifas.ufl.edu/SOP%20SOD%20Draft3_mem.pdf    
• New source of trace-forwards: Means Nursery in Oregon (See the Pest Alert page for the latest USDA update)
•  SOD poster and a quick ID card available now in Powerpoint format so you can customize it for your state.  (These items are available http://spdn.ifas.ufl.edu/Pest_alert.html)
• Let us know about updates! All 5 regional hub labs are standing by to provide surge relief to labs doing SOD testing. Please call Carrie to coordinate shipments at 352-392-3631 xt 254 or email at CLHarmon@ufl.edu.

NACAA meeting was a huge success!  Thanks to everyone's participation, NPDN was able to train more than 120 county agents on all of our NPDN Educational Modules.  See photos from the meeting at http://spdn.ifas.ufl.edu/NACAA_04.htm

Please get your subcontract in as soon as possible - the funds will be released when we get your forms to the USDA folks!  This year’s subcontract process may be a little easier - we are looking for shorter Plans of Work (2 pages, one page justification of last year's spending and one page of plans for this year's). Each state will have $36,000 to spend in the areas of Training and Education, IT, Diagnostics, and Entomology.  The regional budget and related forms are available for use as templates (your “Total Request” should equal $36,000).   Download the forms

Entomology workshop:  The SPDN will host an intensive ‘Homoptera’ workshop http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/homoptera for general diagnosticians and extension specialists in Gainesville, FL, from December 9-11, 2004.  Sponsorship forms are also available on the website.  For more information about the ‘Homoptera’ workshop, contact Amanda Hodges achodges@ifas.ufl.edu

Mark your calendars for the Third Annual Regional Meeting! November 4-5 in Atlanta, GA.  Meeting information can be found at http://spdn.ifas.ufl.edu/spdn_meetings.html .  The following are possible topics to be covered at the meeting (please send additional topics/comments to clharmon@ufl.edu):  Pest Hot Topics (a few pathogens, a few insects – suggestions?), Committee Reports from the Chairs, Entomology Program update, Crossnore update, FL-SART update, CAPS program, FERN program, industry workshop development, Matrix explanation for use in quarterly reports, development of a Regional Meeting Planning Committee and discussion of rotating the meeting location.  Send in your ideas!

First Detector and First Detector Educator testing: The tests are available on the education modules page. Scantrons are available and can be shipped to you on request. We can even do the grading and enter the registry information for you!  Contact Amanda Hodges at (352) 392-1901 xt 122 or ACHodges@ifas.ufl.edu

Explore the website: The News You Can Use section of the SPDN homepage is available for advertising your state's training events. Please email information and/or links to clharmon@ufl.edu for posting.