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Good afternoon,
As you may be aware, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has been participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) since May 2025. DATCP is proud to share that Wisconsin has achieved unaffected Gold Status under the USDA APHIS NMTS. This designation reflects successful statewide implementation of monthly milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI/H5N1) across nearly all licensed dairy farms in the state. With this update, Wisconsin is now one of more than 30 states recognized for consistent participation and a robust testing infrastructure.
This milestone would not have been possible without the strong partnership between DATCP's partners including Wisconsin's dairy producers, Wisconsin's National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) Certified Milk Labs, and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL). The continuous collaboration, commitment, and care in this effort have helped keep Wisconsin’s dairy industry safe and nationally recognized.
As a result of this achievement, Wisconsin will transition to a reduced testing frequency while maintaining our commitment to ongoing surveillance pursuant to the NMTS. Milk samples will continue to be collected through existing, routine sampling and tested at WVDL. This will ensure continued monitoring with minimal disruption to operations. Intra- and interstate testing orders for lactating dairy cattle remain in effect, requiring negative Influenza A test results prior to movement to fairs, exhibitions, or across state lines. More information on testing requirements can be found on DATCP's website.
To date, more than 14,000 milk PCR samples have been tested in Wisconsin under the NMTS, with no PCR detections of H5N1 in livestock.
The H5N1 in Dairy Cattle webpage will be regularly updated and continue to provide resources for producers, event organizers, and veterinarians. Stakeholders are encouraged to subscribe for updates online.
DATCP is deeply grateful for your continued partnership. Dairy is central to Wisconsin’s identity, economy, and communities.
For questions or more information on the testing strategy, contact NMTSfaq@wisconsin.gov or (608) 224-4717.
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