Educational programs supported by the plan are being conducted through the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Funding has allowed the Extension Service to hire county Extension agents and support personnel to focus on the Fire Ant Initiative in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Fifty-three percent of Texans live in the six counties encompassing these urban areas (Harris, Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson counties). Urban homeowners are the primary users of fire ant control products, but management of fire ants can be greatly improved in these areas using carefully selected available methods on a community-wide basis. County Extension agents around the state are also available to help out with fire ant problems in each county. In agricultural production, control expenses should be offset by the losses prevented. Otherwise, the producer is not seeing a return on the investment. There are also far fewer products and many more pesticide use restrictions in agricultural areas. A number of research projects funded by the plan are addressing the needs, assessing impact and developing management systems for imported fire ant problems affecting agricultural and wildlife areas.