APHIS Announces Progress in Implementing 2018 Farm Bill Programs

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the progress the agency is making to implement programs funded by the 2018 Farm Bill. Today, APHIS is awarding of $10.2 million to support disease prevention and emergency response training and exercise projects as well as targeted projects to enhance laboratory diagnostic capability. The agency is also moving forward with developing the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB).

 

“USDA has always worked best when it collaborates with states, universities, and farmers and ranchers out in the field,” said USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach. “Our Farm Bill programs allow us to continue to strengthen these vital partnerships. Working together, we can further improve our ability to protect U.S. animal health and respond to animal disease events. At the same time, we will continue to ensure we have an effective insurance policy in the extremely rare chance of an outbreak of certain high consequence foreign animal diseases, like foot-and-mouth disease.”

 

The 2018 Farm Bill provided funding for these programs as part of an overall strategy to help prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the United States and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions.

 

NADPRP

APHIS is awarding $5.2 million through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP). The NADPRP funded projects will advance the capabilities, capacity, and readiness of the nation’s animal agriculture sector responders through training and exercises. They will be led by State animal health authorities and land-grant universities in 25 States. The projects will address training and exercise priorities in all major livestock industries and all regions of the United States, with a third of the projects impacting national or regional levels.

 

A full list of awarded projects is available here.

 

NAHLN

APHIS is awarding $5 million through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). The NAHLN funded projects will be led by NAHLN laboratories representing 19 States. Collectively, they address test method development and validation, improving electronic transmission of data, increasing biosafety and biosecurity in laboratories and enhancing emergency preparedness. These efforts will help us enhance NAHLN diagnostic capability.

 

A full list of awarded projects is available here.

 

NAVVCB

APHIS is continuing its efforts to stand up the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). The first priority of the NAVVCB is to increase the U.S. stockpile of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines. On October 11, APHIS’ 30-day sources sought notice for FMD vaccines closed with a total of seven responses which the agency reviewed as part of the development of its acquisition strategy. Today, APHIS is issuing a request for proposals, and plans to have the initial FMD vaccine contracts in place by the end of second quarter of FY 2020. APHIS’ target goal is to invest between $15 and $30 million on vaccine by the end of 2020. The vaccine bank will allow APHIS to stockpile animal vaccine and other related products, serving as an effective insurance policy in the extremely rare chance of an outbreak of certain high consequence foreign animal diseases, like foot and mouth disease.

 

More information about these programs is available at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/farmbill.

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