The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an opportunity to fund animal health training and exercises under the new National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. NADPRP is one of three major animal-health initiatives in the 2018 farm bill, and UEP took a lead role in lobbying Congress to create and fund the program.

The other two initiatives will create a vaccine bank and fund the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. NADPRP itself focuses on partnerships with state agencies, livestock trade associations and other entities to increase the capabilities, capacity and readiness of the nation’s animal agriculture sector to quickly and effectively respond to foreign or emerging pests and disease outbreaks.

The first year of NADPRP will be a pilot phase, in which funds will be awarded to develop and carry out training, as well as to conduct training and preparedness exercises. The application period is now open and closes Oct. 25, 2019. Each agreement can be funded in an amount between $50,000 and $1 million.

Information on how to apply, including extensive qualification requirements, is on a special web page at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) site. For those interested, APHIS will conduct a webinar Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT. Details are on the web page.