Category Archives: USDA

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is leading a growing response to a large outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). To date, the virus has been confirmed in 29 states, affecting more than 33 million domestic birds. APHIS is working closely with State animal health officials on joint incident responses in each of the affected states.

Each year, I have the honor of sharing with you APHIS’ achievements as highlighted in our annual Impact Report. This year, I am particularly proud of our work, both on the frontlines of protecting and promoting American agriculture and the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of over $13 million in research that explores novel therapies and prevention strategies for animal diseases that cost the agricultural industry billions worldwide.

Today, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of Canada, Dr. Mary Jane Ireland and the United States CVO, Dr. Rosemary Sifford, issued the following statement: “We are pleased to announce that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), have officially agreed to implement an Emergency Transit Policy for Regulated Animals.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service is requesting comment on proposed pathogen reduction performance standards for Salmonella in raw ground and mechanically separated pork and raw pork cuts. FSIS is also requesting comment on how it plans to assess whether establishments producing these products are effectively addressing Salmonellausing a moving window of FSIS sampling results.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) announces the opening of the fiscal year (FY) 2022 application cycle. NIFA anticipates that approximately $3 million in funding will be available in FY 2022 to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the United States. The goals of the VSGP are to support food animal veterinary medicine through Education, Extension, and Training (EET) funds for accredited schools and organizations and through Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) funds for veterinary clinics that provide services in veterinary shortage situations.

Changes to the Salmonella Verification Testing Program: Proposed Performance Standards for Salmonella in Raw Comminuted Pork and Intact or Non-Intact Pork Cuts and Related Agency Verification Procedures

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is pleased to announce the final Strategic Framework outlining how the Agency will advance surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging zoonotic diseases as directed by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP).

The newest video in the ongoing series, Feral Swine in America: Episode 4: Arizona looks at the unique challenges of removing the last feral swine in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and how new technology can improve success.

Effective Jan. 3, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will change its policy for the amount of time an establishment under compliance agreement may hold regulated garbage. APHIS is increasing the hold time for these establishments from the current limit of 72 hours to 120 hours.