This funding will continue to enable the louisiana department of agriculture and forestry to continue to carry out essential programs focused on animal disease surveillance

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry a $138,675 cooperative agreement on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to conduct animal disease surveillance, emergency response planning, and coordinated training and outreach across Louisiana through March 31, 2027.

The recipient will conduct comprehensive monitoring and testing for avian influenza in commercial operations, including quarterly inspections, and monitor unexplained respiratory disease, declines in egg production, and unexplained mortality in backyard flocks to enable early detection and rapid response. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry will maintain participation in the National Poultry Improvement Plan certification program and continue routine testing for tuberculosis, brucellosis, and trichomoniasis in cattle; bovine spongiform encephalopathy sampling statewide; and surveillance of sheep and goats through livestock markets, with continued enrollment in the National Scrapie Program. Educational outreach will equip livestock producers, industry partners, and accredited veterinarians with knowledge and tools for herd health management and biosecurity implementation. Work is performed in Louisiana.

Emergency response planning and preparedness, and coordinated training and outreach efforts for livestock producers, industry partners, and accredited veterinarians across louisiana. The louisiana department of agriculture and forestry will use the funds to complete the following activities: comprehensive monitoring and testing for avian influenza will be conducted to safeguard and protect the agricultural community. The louisiana department of AG and forestry will continue to monitor unexplained respiratory disease, declines in EGG production, and unexplained mortality in backyard flocks to ensure early detection, rapid response, and effective containment. Participation in the national poultry improvement plan (npip) certification program further strengthens disease prevention and biosecurity standards. Commercial operations will continue to be inspected every quarter. Ldaf will continue to have a comprehensive approach to livestock health to protect the cattle industry and strengthen disease prevention programs. Educational outreach equips producers with the knowledge to implement good herd health and biosecurity. Routine testing for tuberculosis and brucellosis helps ensure early detection and effective control. Routine trich tests are done on bulls to continue surveillance. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy sampling will continue throughout the state. Sheep and goats will continue to be monitored through the livestock markets, and any suspected cases will be monitored. Enrollment in the national scrapie program will continue to be encouraged to support disease surveillance and traceability efforts at the state and national level. Ongoing educational outreach further equips producers with knowledge and tools needed to maintain held health and implement effective biosecurity practices. Comprehensive baseline surveillance of swine will continue to protect herd health and support the overall resilience of the livestock industry. Routine testing via blood samples at markets allows monitoring swine health and prevents the spread of infectious diseases. We will use these funds to continue disease traceability activities by encouraging producers to enroll is the national scrapie program, tag 7,000 sheep/goats at 7 livestock markets, and continue disease surveillance. For poultry, we will actively monitor unexplained mortality in backyard flocks, encourage backyard flocks and hobbyists to get npip certified and complete 39,000 tests this year, and continue to educate stakeholders and producers on the importance of biosecurity measures and disease surveillance. Within our cattle health, we will continue to trich test bulls weekly at livestock markets, collect 140 BSE samples, continue to do quarterly check-INS with slaughterhouses statewide, and continue to conduct outreach to field veterinarians and stakeholders. I nspect 3,300 swine that pass through the livestock markets, sample 150 swine for PRV-SB, encourage producers to get involved in our feral swine program, and educate them on disease surveillance and biosecurity. Through these measures, IT will allow the state to focus on furthering agriculture in the state of louisiana. The intended beneficiaries for this cooperative agreement include the louisiana department of agriculture and forestry, livestock producers, and livestock markets. No subrecipients.