Cooperative Agreement AP26VSSPRS00C086

The Georgia Department of Agriculture received a $167,690 Cooperative Agreement from the 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 comprehensive national surveillance and response activities for endemic and foreign animal diseases affecting livestock in Georgia, with specific focus on brucellosis, scrapie, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance programs in swine and cattle, as well as tuberculosis (TB) investigations in cattle herds.

Under this cooperative agreement, the Georgia Department of Agriculture delivers surveillance, epidemiological investigation, and disease response services through a dedicated team of five veterinarians and supporting staff, along with livestock and poultry program managers and field inspectors. Key deliverables include maintaining and expanding Regulatory and Surveillance System (RSSS) collection sites for sheep and goat surveillance, conducting approximately 40-45 animal disease investigations annually, performing trace testing and herd testing for TB suspects, managing on-farm quarantines and retesting protocols, conducting approximately 1,000 livestock market sale day visits per agreement year, and providing approximately 15 outreach visits. The agency also completes monthly National Animal Health Reporting System (NAHRS) reporting and develops state-level response plans, standard operating procedures, and guidance documents to support emergency preparedness for endemic, foreign, zoonotic, and emerging disease events impacting agricultural operations.