Project Grant AP24VSSPRS00G002

THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL PURCHASE AND UPDATE EQUIPMENT, PURCHASE SUPPLIES, AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY PLANNING. THE SOUTHWEST BORDER FOOD PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CENTER IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY'S (NMSU) COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE THAT COMPLETES TARGETED AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY PLANNING, EQUIPS KEY POSITIONS AROUND THE STATE, PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES, AND BUILDS AWARENESS THROUGH OUTREACH TO YOUTH. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, THE CENTER WILL PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY, FOOD DEFENSE, AND FOOD SAFETY. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING BE PROVIDED FOR NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STAFF, NM-ALIRT VETERINARIANS, NEW MEXICO LIVESTOCK BOARD (NMLB) PERSONNEL, EXTENSION PERSONNEL, TRIBAL RANGERS, AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THREATS AND MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST BORDER FOOD PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CENTER (CENTER), NEW MEXICO HAS SOLID, TRUSTED RESEARCH AND POLICY PARTNERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, WHICH WILL FACILITATE EFFECTIVE, ON-THE-GROUND EFFORTS FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INTEGRITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY. THIS PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE PROGRAMS ALREADY IN PLACE AT NMSU INCLUDING THE NA TIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY NETWORK, THE NATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PROGRAM, AND OTHER LOCAL AND STATE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS.