USDA Awards $15.3 Million to Protect Animal Health

By Abbey Canon

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is awarding more than $15.3 million to projects that will enhance prevention, preparedness, early detection, and rapid response to the most damaging diseases that threaten U.S. livestock.

“These projects will provide producers, veterinarians, and States with tools to better control, treat, and recover from foreign animal disease outbreaks,” said Michael Watson, APHIS Administrator. “These efforts directly support USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ efforts to ensure farmers, ranchers and producers have the support they need to keep feeding, fueling, and clothing America.” 

These 68 new projects led by 24 State Departments of Agriculture, five Tribal Entities, 35 universities, three livestock industry organizations and one Federal partner will increase our Nation’s ability to rapidly respond to and control animal disease outbreaks. USDA is awarding this funding through the 2018 Farm Bill’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP). 

The projects will help address gaps in animal disease outbreak emergency response, increase producer’s use of gold-standard biosecurity measures, train producers and responders to carry out animal disease outbreak response activities, help States and Tribes develop and exercise animal disease emergency response plans, and help producers who are impacted by animal disease outbreaks recover quickly.