Objective:
The purpose of this agreement is to fund research to find, identify, and characterize potential biological control candidates for rangeland weeds, including Rush Skeletonweed, particularly for use in the western United States. All changes to objectives must be approved in advance by NPS.

Approach:
The European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL) of the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), will conduct explorations in foreign countries, including Greece and Bulgaria, for insect enemies and microbial pathogens of rangeland weeds, particularly Rush Skeletonweed. Insects and microbial isolates will be transported to EBCL facilities in Montpellier, France, where they will be identified and partially characterized using standard protocols and methodologies. Promising biological control candidates will then be sent to stateside quarantine facilities for further evaluation by the Sponsor and/or clients of the Sponsor. All changes to the approach must be approved in advance by NPS.