This week, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced plans for new animal health activities using funding provided in the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill established a three-part program to support animal disease prevention management and provided funding for two new programs; the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (vaccine bank) and the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP).

This fall, APHIS will issue a notice to gather information from vaccine manufacturers and develop an acquisition strategy for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine. APHIS will make up to $10 million available for NADPRP and NAHLN for proposed projects. APHIS will also be entering cooperative agreements with states, universities, livestock producer organizations, and other eligible entities for projects that will help prevent new pests and diseases from entering the U.S. and reducing the spread and impact of potential disease incursions. Funding will also help enhance disease prevention and response efforts through an initial round of training and exercise projects. Farm Bill funding for National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHL) will support targeted projects to expand diagnostic capacity and the ability to rapidly respond to adverse animal health events.

These programs will work together to protect and improve the health of our nation’s livestock, helping farmers and ranchers provide high-quality agricultural products to consumers. Egg producers and egg industry stakeholders will need to participate in the cooperative agreement process to ensure that relevant poultry disease prevention work gets funded.