The ohio department of agriculture will centrally coordinate and enhance ohio's animal disease traceability or ADT efforts and continue to develop and enhance the state's ADT infrastructure

The Ohio Department of Agriculture received a $252,582 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This award funds the Ohio department to centrally coordinate and enhance the state's Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) infrastructure through the recruitment, hiring, and training of a dedicated ADT Coordinator. The coordinator will consolidate Ohio's ADT efforts, coordinate regularly with state and federal staff, and establish collaborative mechanisms to improve disease traceability protocols.

The primary deliverables include increased adoption of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and electronic Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) among Ohio's accredited veterinarians. By advancing these traceability tools and infrastructure, the cooperative agreement aims to enable livestock producers to maintain business continuity during animal disease outbreaks while preventing disease spread, thereby protecting Ohio's food supply, livestock producer livelihoods, and rural economic opportunities.

Ohio will recruit, hire, and train an ADT coordinator to centrally focus and consolidate ohio's ADT efforts. The coordinator will train with ohio's state and federal staff and establish regular meetings with state and federal staff to improve ADT. The project will increase radio frequency identification or rfid and electronic certificate of veterinary inspection or CVI usage among accredited veterinarians in ohio. The project will benefit producers by helping them maintain business continuity during animal disease outbreaks without exacerbating the spread of disease. The project will ensure a safe food supply and protect the livelihoods and economic opportunities of ohio livestock producers and rural communities.