This project intends to aid in the management of minnesota's herd certification program (HCP)

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, through its Board of Animal Health, received a $177,325 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The award, effective September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026, supports management and administration of Minnesota's Herd Certification Program (HCP) for farmed cervids, a critical initiative designed to mitigate the risk of interstate Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) transmission and enhance interstate trade confidence in cervid animals and products.

In addition to program management activities, the award funds the development and delivery of educational outreach materials and programs targeted at farmed cervid stakeholders. These educational initiatives address key program requirements, Chronic Wasting Disease sample collection protocols, and predictive genetics information relevant to herd management. The cooperative agreement is structured as a direct award with no subawards to other entities, indicating all services are delivered directly through Minnesota state personnel and infrastructure.

The HCP reduces the risk of interstate CWD spread and increases trade confidence of cervid animals and products. In addition, this project intends to develop and/or deliver educational outreach materials or programs to farmed cervid stakeholders in the HCP on program requirements, CWD sample collection, and/or predictive genetics. This proposal does not include subawards.