Achieve several key objectives. Firstly, IT aims to meet traceability performance standards by diligently documenting and recording relevant traces and trace exercises in EMRS2

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Minnesota Board of Animal Health a $131,348 cooperative agreement effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to enhance animal disease traceability in Minnesota.

The Board will distribute approximately 10,000 official RFID tags annually to Minnesota veterinarians and livestock producers, maintaining records of all distributed tags in Trace First's CoreOne database. The recipient will process approximately 15,000 electronic Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (eCVIS) annually through CVI Central, requiring 100% electronic CVIS by July 2026 and phasing out paper certificates. The agreement requires tracking utilization by 200 Category II accredited veterinarians and sharing summary data with USDA and other states upon request in PDF or Excel format. Messaging of animal events will continue to the Animal Health Event Reporting system via USDA's Enterprise Messaging Service.

The recipient will conduct 10–12 outreach events annually for veterinarians and producers, providing training on RFID technology and electronic recordkeeping to dealers, agents, producers, and other stakeholders. All assigned traceability performance measures in the Electronic Multistate Reporting System will be completed during the agreement period. Performance of all work occurs in Minnesota.

Additionally, the agreement seeks to enhance the potential of a fully electronic system by collaborating with USDA aphis VS in minnesota to distribute rfid tags, thereby minimizing data entry errors, transitioning to a paperless system, and improving animal disease traceability (ADT). The continued use of trace first's coreone database, aligned with USDA and other state systems, is crucial for compatibility. An essential aspect involves implementing an outreach plan to educate various stakeholders, such as dealers, agents, producers, veterinarians, on animal disease traceability, with recorded activities in appendix b.2. Activities to be performed. Rfid tag distribution: distribute approximately 10,000 official rfid tags annually to minnesota veterinarians and livestock producers. Maintain records of all distributed tags in coreone. Electronic records: require 100% electronic cvis by july 2026; phase out paper cvis. Process ~15,000 ecvis annually through CVI central. Track utilization by 200 category II accredited veterinarians. Information sharing: share summary data with USDA and other states upon request in PDF or excel format. Continue messaging animal events to aher via USDA's enterprise messaging service. Outreach: conduct 10-12 outreach events annually for veterinarians and producers. Provide training on rfid technology and electronic recordkeeping. National priority tracing exercises: complete all assigned tpms in EMRS2 during the agreement period. Deliverables and expected outcomes. Outcomes for this objective will be the continued use of coreone by trace first's animal health database. Tpms will be conducted throughout each reporting period as they are received by the USDA aphis VS. The recipient will increase awareness and compliance for animal identification requirements and record keeping with outreach to these individuals and groups. With continued contact, the correct use of official identification and record keeping will increase. Outputs for rfid tag distribution are the number of official ear tags distributed to minnesota veterinarians and livestock producers and captured in the recipient's database. Expected outcomes: improved traceability compliance through increased rfid and ecvi usage. Reduction in data entry errors and faster trace completion. Enhanced stakeholder awareness of ADT requirements. Intended beneficiary(IES). Beneficiaries include minnesota veterinarians, livestock producers, livestock markets, and others involved in animal agriculture who stand to benefit from enhanced animal disease traceability and streamlined record-keeping processes. Subrecipient activities. N/a budget: recipient personnel and fringe-- $126,862; indirect costs (3.53%)-- $4,486.