WASHINGTON — The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an investment of $22.2 million in disease prevention, preparedness, early detection and rapid response for threats to US livestock.

The funds will be distributed to 81 projects led by 48 states, universities, industry organizations and veterinary diagnostic laboratories.

“Bolstering animal disease preparedness is crucial because these diseases devastate livestock and hardworking farmers whose animals are affected, and threaten America’s access to safe, healthy, affordable food,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, under secretary for USDA Marking and Regulatory Programs. “APHIS plays an important leadership role in protecting against current and future threats to US animal health, and these investments are key to supporting this work.”

USDA is awarding funding through the 2018 Farm Bill’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

Under NADPRP, APHIS is giving $16.2 million to support 74 projects that will aid states in the development of disease control and outbreak plans. Project initiatives include training responders and producers who perform critical animal disease outbreak response activities, increasing producer use of biosecurity measures, educating livestock owners on preventing disease and supporting animal movement decisions in outbreaks, among others. A complete list of NADPRP-funded projects can be found here.

Through NAHLN, APHIS is awarding $1 million to projects that enhance early detection of animal diseases. Additionally, the agency will give $5 million directly to NAHLN laboratories for infrastructure needs. The complete list of NAHLN-funded projects can be found here.

APHIS also announced that, on top of the $22.2 million investment, $900,000 in Farm Bill funds will be used to replenish the national stockpile of classical swine fever vaccine.