May 27, 2024

USDA allocates US$22.2 million for livestock disease prevention and response

The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced an investment of US$22.2 million aimed at enhancing disease prevention, preparedness, early detection, and rapid response for threats to US livestock, Supermarket Perimeter reported.

These funds will support 81 projects across 48 states, universities, industry organisations, and veterinary diagnostic laboratories.

Jenny Lester Moffitt, undersecretary for USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programmes, said bolstering animal disease preparedness is crucial because these diseases devastate livestock and hardworking farmers whose animals are affected, and threaten America's access to safe, healthy, affordable food.

APHIS plays an important leadership role in protecting against current and future threats to US animal health, and these investments are key to supporting this work.

The USDA is awarding the funding through the 2018 Farm Bill's National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Programme (NADPRP) and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

Under NADPRP, APHIS is providing US$16.2 million to support 74 projects that will assist states in developing disease control and outbreak plans. These initiatives include training responders and producers for animal disease outbreak response activities, increasing producer use of biosecurity measures, educating livestock owners on disease prevention, and supporting animal movement decisions during outbreaks.

Through NAHLN, APHIS is awarding US$1 million to projects aimed at enhancing early detection of animal diseases. Additionally, US$5 million will be allocated directly to NAHLN laboratories for infrastructure needs.

APHIS also announced that, in addition to the US$22.2 million investment, US$900,000 in Farm Bill funds will be used to replenish the national stockpile of classical swine fever vaccine.

-      Supermarket Perimeter