Cooperative Agreement AP23VSSP0000C053

THIS AGREEMENT FUNDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO UNITED STATES BEEF PRODUCERS, TRANSPORTERS, AND VETER INARIANS ABOUT THE SECURE BEEF SUPPLY (SBS) PLAN TO FURTHER INDUSTRY COLLABORATION AND PREPAREDNESS FOR FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE (FMD). THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION (NCBA) WILL EXPAND THEIR NETWORK OF EDUCATORS AND USE THEIR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS TO REACH OVER 250,000 PRODUCERS AND TRANSPORTERS. THE FIRST ACTIVITY IS TO FORM AN ADVISORY GROUP CONSISTING OF BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS, TRANSPORTERS, AND INFLUENCERS INCLUDING STATE BQA COORDINATORS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM LIVESTOCK MARKETS, DAIRY AND VETERINARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND STATE ANIMAL HEALTH OFFICIALS. THIS GROUP WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A GAP ANALYSIS OF THE BEEF INDUSTRY'S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FMD PREPAREDNESS AND SBS PLAN RESOURCES. THE ADVISORS WILL PRIORITIZE AND REVIEW NEWLY CREATED AND EXISTING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. THESE RESOURCES, SUCH AS HANDOUTS, VIDEOS, SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS, AND PRESENTATIONS,WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH TWO TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAMS FOR AT LEAST 60 INFLUENCERS WHO HAVE DIRECT CONNECTIONS WITH U.S. PRODUCERS. THIS GROUP AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WORKING TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PREPAREDNESS PLANNING WILL BE INVITED TO SHARE SUCCESS STORIES, CHALLENGES, RESOURCES, AND ADDITIONAL NEEDS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE RESOURCES WILL ALSO BE POSTED ON THE SBS WEBSITE WHICH WILL BENEFIT FROM UPDATED SOFTWARE, SECURITY, AND IMPROVED USABILITY. THE NCBA WILL DISSEMINATE AND PROMOTE NEW AND EXISTING SBS PLAN PREPAREDNESS MATERIALS DIRECTLY TO BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS, RANCHERS, AND TRANSPORTERS THROUGH THEIR ESTABLISHED PRINT, DIGITAL, AND ONLINE STREAMING COMMUNICATION CHANNELS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND ENCOURAGE ADOPTION. THEIR LONG-TIME PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION PROVIDES OPP ORTUNITIES TO REACH DAIRY PRODUCERS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CATTLE MOVEMENT CONTINGENCY PLANNING. THE NCBA WILL ALSO REACH VETERINARIANS, AN AUDIENCE WITH DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THEIR CATTLE PRODUCING CLIENTS, THROUGH THEIR ESTABLISHED COLLABORATIONS WITH THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOVINE PRACTITIONERS (AABP) AND THE ACADEMY OF VETERINARY CONSULTANTS (AVC). U.S. CATTLE PRODUCERS, RANCHERS, TRANSPORTERS, AND MEAT PACKING AND PROCESSORS WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT GIVEN THE VALUE IN PREPAREDNESS PLANNING TO MAINTAIN BUSINESS CONTINUITY IN THE EVENT OF A FMD OUTBREAK. THIS IN TURN BENEFITS VETERINARIANS, ALLIED INDUSTRY, AND STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO SERVE THE PRODUCERS.