Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The Utah Department of Agriculture received a $106,215 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) for the period April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. This award supports critical animal health monitoring, surveillance, and response activities throughout Utah to protect national agricultural interests. The agreement encompasses comprehensive avian disease programs, including approximately 1,359 avian influenza tests annually through the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), investigations of foreign animal diseases affecting poultry, biosecurity plan reviews for certified flocks, and maintenance of emergency response equipment including depopulation devices. The awardee will also conduct producer education activities, including an annual Utah Egg Producers meeting addressing avian influenza and biosecurity concerns, and establish an Emergency Animal Disease Advisory Committee with poultry industry representatives to coordinate state response planning in coordination with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services.

The award also funds cattle disease surveillance and control activities, including approximately 6,700 brucellosis commuter permitting tests annually from the designated Greater Yellowstone Area surveillance zone and 200 auction brucellosis tests per year. Additional deliverables include specialized training for state personnel at the National Poultry Improvement Plan Official State Agency Meeting, data entry support for poultry import records, and coordination of disease traceback investigations and post-exposure monitoring activities. These services support APHIS's mission to protect U.S. agriculture from economically injurious animal diseases and ensure the safety of agricultural production systems across the state.