The california poultry federation, serving as the official state agency administering the national poultry improvement plan in california, conducts statewide avian disease surveillance, compliance…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $207,000 cooperative agreement to the California Poultry Federation, Inc., effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The California Poultry Federation, serving as California's official administering agency for the National Poultry Improvement Plan, conducts statewide avian disease surveillance, compliance monitoring, diagnostic coordination, and producer outreach. Deliverables include approximately 2,000 avian influenza tests conducted annually, active and passive surveillance of commercial and non-commercial poultry flocks, inspections and audits of NPIP participants, hatcheries, feed stores, and slaughter establishments, laboratory sample collection and submission, geographic information system mapping of in-state poultry operations, and biosecurity and disease prevention outreach. The Federation also maintains webpages and develops or updates state-level response and containment plans. Surveillance activities support early disease detection, interstate poultry movement eligibility, rapid disease response capability, and national food supply protection. The Federation's services are not duplicated by other state or federal entities and represent the primary operational implementation of NPIP field surveillance in California.

Place of performance is California.

The california poultry federation, serving as the official state agency administering the national poultry improvement plan in california, conducts statewide avian disease surveillance, compliance monitoring, diagnostic coordination, and producer outreach in support of USDA aphis veterinary services national animal health objectives. California poultry federation supports surveillance testing, inspections, and preparedness activities across commercial and non-commercial poultry sectors, providing measurable contributions to early disease detection, interstate commerce eligibility, and national food supply protection. Efficiency and program impact context - california poultry federation activities s are structured to maximize surveillance coverage and program efficiency in california. Performs statewide national poultry improvement plan surveillance, compliance, and outreach activities. These services are not duplicated by other state or federal entities and represent the primary operational implementation of national poultry improvement plan field surveillance in california. Program outputs are directly tied to measurable surveillance throughput, including approximately 2,000 avian influenza tests conducted annually and ongoing monitoring of commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Rapid sampling, RE porting, and coordination support early detection of disease events, reducing response complexity and contributing to national animal health protection. Personnel directly conduct surveillance activities, inspections, and data reporting, ensuring efficient utiliza tion of cooperative agreement resources. Surveillance data is reported through official program channels, supporting federal situational awareness and compliance tracking. These activities contribute to maintaining eligibility for interstate poultry movement, supporting rapid disease response capability, reducing economic risk to poultry producers, and protecting national food supply stability. Quantified deliverables summary - annual program deliverables supported through this agreement include approximately: 2,000 avian influenza tests; 2,600 commercial (waterfowl and gamebirds) and backyard birds sampled for surveillance; 420 agar GEL immunodiffusion (agid) diagnostic tests; 1,525 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisa) diagnostic tests; 60 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests; 4 necropsy submissions; 4,615 pullorum-typhoid tests; 12 hatchery inspections; 6 annual slaughter plant records audits; surveillance monitoring for 40+ commercial participants; outreach and training reaching approximately 75 producers annually; and coverage across 24+ california counties. Active surveillance - conduct avian influenza and pullorum-typhoid surveillance testing of national poultry improvement plan -enrolled poultry flocks throughout california. Activities include sampling of national poultry improvement plan subparts b, e, i, and j flocks; surveillance of subsidized and independent backyard flock participants enrolled through national poultry improvement plan participation pathways; and annual testing of 100 percent of participating flocks for pullorum-typhoid. Five animal health technicians sample flocks statewide through annual on-site visits and additional testing intervals completed through producer-assisted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sampling, including subpart-specific interval testing such as 90-day sampling requirements for applicable gamebird breeders. Outcome: early detection of avian influenza and salmonella pullorum in commercial and non-commercial national poultry improvement plan poultry populations. Passive surveillance - monitor laboratory accessions daily from the four california animal health and food safety laboratory branches, reviews surveillance data from national poultry improvement plan approved producer laboratories, responds to sick bird and mortality reports from backyard flock owners, and coordinates retesting and necropsy submissions. Outcome: rapid disease identification and response coordination. Inspections and audits - conduct regulatory inspections, compliance monitoring, and audit coordination supporting national poultry improvement plan participation and biosecurity verification across california poultry operations. Activities include: completion of 12 hatchery inspections annually to verify national poultry improvement plan participation compliance; annual slaughter plant record audits conducted in accordance with national poultry improvement plan part 146 protocols; ongoing national poultry improvement plan compliance monitoring of program participants statewide; coordination and review of national poultry improvement plan biosecurity audits conducted on a biennial cycle; assistance to producers preparing for biosecurity verification and documentation requirements; and reporting of completed audit status to national poultry improvement plan service as required. The national poultry improvement plan biosecurity audit is a prerequi site component supporting verification under the USDA biosecurity compliance assurance program framework. These activities help ensure participating operations maintain eligibility for indemnity consideration, interstate poultry movement, and continued program STA nding. Outcome: verification of compliance across regulated poultry facilities; maintenance of national npip program integrity; protection of interstate commerce eligibility; and strengthened industry biosecurity posture supporting avian disease mitigation. Data entry and recordkeeping - maintain surveillance and participation records of all national poultry improvement plan subpart participant, including entry of surveillance data, maintenance of participant records, and reporting to the national poultry improvement plan service. Outcome: supports federal disease tracking and reporting requirements. Laboratory diagnostics - coordinate laboratory testing across multiple diagnostic platforms supporting national poultry improvement plan surveillance objectives. The california animal health and food safety laboratory system (4 branches) and an approved national poultry improvement plan producer laboratory perform all testing. Outcome: diagnostic confirmation of disease status supporting national surveillance objectives. Education and outreach - conduct structured producer education and outreach activities to promote national poultry improvement plan participation, biosecurity compliance, and avian disease prevention awareness statewide. These activities include annual quality assurance training seminars, distribution of federal biosecurity guidance materials, and ongoing communications supporting disease response readiness. Host at least one formal quality assurance seminar annually as part of continuous education requirements associated with program certification and industry participation. Industry and regulatory coordination includes participation and collaboration with: california department of food and agriculture; USDA aphis veterinary services in addition to formal training events, california poultry federation distributes USDA biosecurity educational materials statewide and maintains ongoing producer communications related to disease alerts, program updates, and prevention guidance. Outcome: improves statewide biosecurity awareness, supports continuing education requirements, strengthens federal-state-industry coordination, and enhances producer preparedness to mitigate avian disease risks. Intended beneficiaries - this agreement directly serves: more than 40 commercial national poultry improvement plan participants; backyard flock participants statewide; poultry producers across more than 24 california counties; 22 associated hatcheries, slaughter plants, and laboratories. Indirect beneficiaries include california poultry consumers; interstate poultry markets; and national food supply chain stability.