APHIS Announces Consultation Board to Assist with Implementing National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established a consultation board to assist the agency with implementation of the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.  This new program was created by the 2018 Farm Bill to fund projects that will help prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the United States and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions.

The board is comprised of 10 members nominated by the United States Animal Health Association representing states, industry and academia, as well as one representative from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and one Tribal nation representative.  APHIS Veterinary Services will coordinate and participate on the board.  

The consultation board will recommend annual funding priorities, provide input to improve program policies and processes, nominate experts to review and rank funding proposals, and make recommendations for the program’s annual spending plan. Once the board agrees on 2020 funding priorities, APHIS will announce details about how eligible entities can apply for funding. 

The board will meet virtually on March 31, to set the 2020 NADPRP funding priorities.  The board will also determine the process for rotating members and recruiting new members to assure fair representation of all entities eligible to participate in the NADPRP.

The following individuals will serve on the consultation board representing NADPRP eligible entities.

State Animal Health Officials

• Robert Cobb, Georgia
• Beth Thompson, Minnesota
• Sara McReynolds, Kansas

Industry Representatives

• Bovine – Dr. Kathy Simmons, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• Porcine – Dr. Lisa Becton, National Pork Board
• Poultry – Dr. Denise Heard, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association
• Small Ruminant – Mrs. Amy Hendrickson, Wyoming Wool Growers, on behalf of the American Sheep Industry Association

Academic Representatives

• Mo Salman, Colorado State University
• Bruce Akey, Texas A&M – Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
• James Roth, Iowa State University

USDA Agricultural Research Services

• Cyril Gay, National Program Leader

Tribal Representative

• Lynda Zambrano, National Tribal Emergency Management Council

The 2019 NADPRP funding focused on training and exercises related to animal disease responses. In January 2020, APHIS awarded $5.2 million to support projects for all major livestock industries and all regions of the United States, with a third of the projects impacting national or regional levels.  These include:

• advancing training for all foreign animal disease diagnosticians (FADDs) across the United States through the development of an online training program and updated resources;
• preparing for an upcoming Foreign Animal Disease Southern Agriculture Functional Exercise that will focus on foot-and-mouth disease preparedness across all susceptible species; and
• building capability to implement a Secure Food Supply (SFS) plan and enhance business continuity during disease outbreaks through training and exercises for dairy, poultry and beef producers.

More information about NADPRP is available here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/farm-bill/ad-preparedness-response-program

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