Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) provides statewide leadership in the conservation and protection of the state’s forests, woodlands and related natural resources.  Through these efforts TFS staff must diagnose a variety of pests that impact forests and trees. Pests such as cogongrass, emerald ash borer, laurel wilt, oak wilt and others may require advanced level diagnosis should the local forester be unable to or is unsure of their diagnosis. For all pest diagnoses the following protocol should be followed.  

1.) A request for pest diagnosis should be made to a local TFS office by the landowner or homeowner

2.) The local TFS representative will schedule a time to visit the affected area to make a diagnosis

3.) Should the local TFS representative be unable to make a diagnosis then the TFS Regional Forest Health Coordinator should be contacted

4.) The TFS Regional Forest Health Coordinator will visit the affected area to make a diagnosis

5.) Should the TFS Regional Forest Health Coordinator be unable to make a positive diagnosis then under the consult of the Forest Health Program Leader will obtain a sample of the pest of a laboratory diagnosis and confirmation

6.) In such case TFS will secure a sample for the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, USDA National EAB Laboratory, US Forest Service Diagnostic Lab or other appropriate laboratory for the purpose of pest identification and confirmation

7.) In such case that the TFS Regional Forest Health Coordinator needs a laboratory diagnosis and confirmation, TFS will incur all expenses for securing the sample and associated costs for a laboratory diagnosis

8.) If TFS staff are able to make a reasonable diagnosis without the aid of a laboratory then the landowner or homeowner will incur all costs associated with a laboratory diagnosis should the landowner or homeowner request one