NCPN Program Updates from Jennifer Nicholson

As the Coordinator for the National Clean Plant Network program, I would like to share some program updates for the Network. First, I am pleased to announce an increase in NPCN program funding. The Plant Protection Act Section 7721 program recently received an increase in funding from $75 million to $90 million. PPA 7721 funds projects through the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and the National Clean Plant Network. Starting in FY 2026, the NCPN program will receive a total of $10 million in funding, up from $8 million in 2025.

I would also like to welcome some new and incoming members to the NCPN Governing Board representing APHIS, and the Southern and Central regions of the National Plant Board. Many thanks to rotating members Jeff Hash (APHIS), Elizabeth Dorman (Michigan), and Greg Hodges (Florida) for their contributions to the NCPN over the last few years.

The full list of NCPN Governing Board members in 2026 is:

USDA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Tom Bewick, National Program Leader, Horticulture

Amer Fayad, National Program Leader, Division of Plant Systems Protection USDA – Agricultural Research Service 

Gary Kinard, Research Leader, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory USDA –APHIS

Christina Devorshak, Associate Executive Director, PPQ Field Operations

Oscar Hurtado, Lead Plant Pathologist, PPQ Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program

National Plant Board (State) Representatives

Central Region: Stefanie Rhodes, Plant Pathology Laboratory Manager, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Eastern Region: Chris Logue, Director, Division of Plant Industry, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Southern Region: Justin Ezell, Chief, Bureau of Budwood Registration, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Western Region: Elizabeth Savory, Program Manager, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture

Finally, I would like to announce that the Network will be reviving the NCPN Industry Committee this fall, with industry representation across all seven crop groups. The purpose of this committee is to provide a cross-commodity industry perspective on the National Clean Plant Network program and will focus on discussion of Network strategic priorities and key issues. This group will also support communication to provide industry insights to the national NCPN Governing Board.

The coming year marks a time of transition in the Network with the first substantial increase in funding in several years, and the end of the planning period for the NCPN 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, and the Industry Committee will provide valuable input on future directions.