Category Archives: USDA

On January 31, 2023, USDA-National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) published the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) Request for Applications. The purpose of the Veterinary Services Grant Program is to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support food animal veterinary services. There are two types of grants for VSGP: Education, Extension, and Training (EET) and Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE). VSGP was appropriated $4 million in funding for FY 2023. The deadline for applications is March 29, 2023, at 5:00 PM ET.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban, a veterinarian, as undersecretary for food safety with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The 2023 farm bill will have tremendous influence on your farm. It’s the chief policy instrument for commodity programs, trade, farm credit, conservation, agricultural research, rural development and, of course, food and nutrition programs. It will affect what U.S. agriculture does, and how we’ll feed the world, over the next five years.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have released the 2022 – 2026 Joint Agency Strategic Plan for their shared Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is making $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding available to address SARS-CoV-2 in animals and advance the Nation’s ability to protect the health of humans and animals.

In June 2022, APHIS announced the availability of up to $17 million in funds for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP). While Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations were eligible to apply for that funding opportunity, an additional $500,000 was specifically designated for a future funding opportunity for Tribes and Tribal organizations for animal disease preparedness and response activities.

Let your voices be heard by NIFA leadership.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting its second African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week from October 10-14, 2022. We are encouraging U.S. swine producers, small farms and pig owners to join us and learn about ASF and what they can do to help protect the U.S. swine herd.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comments on a proposal to introduce a notice-based process for revising user fees for certain veterinary services.

FSIS will host a virtual open house on September 26, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET. The open house will include specific topics based on recent feedback and frequent questions received by the FSIS laboratories.