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 the 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 producers’ 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.
Some of the APHIS-funded NADPRP projects for 2025 that benefit the equine industry include:
- Biosecurity Blueprint: Safeguarding Horses, Poultry, and Livestock, University of Kentucky
- Education and Outreach to Improve Equine Biosecurity: Guidance for Animal Health Professionals, Ohio Department of Agriculture
- Assessing and Improving Biosecurity at Equine Welfare Organizations, American Horse Council
- ‘Whoa’ to Disease Outbreaks in the Equine Industry with Disease Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Education, Ohio State University
- Preparedness for New World Screwworm, Texas A&M University
View the full list of NADPRP-funded projects.
The NADPRP program was part of the 2018 Farm Bill and became permanent under the Animal Health Protection Act. It is part of an overall strategy to help prevent animal pests and diseases and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions with the goal or protecting and expanding market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products.
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