A massive federal investment in animal disease preparedness could provide a critical line of defense for Indiana livestock producers, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture dramatically expands funding to prevent, detect and respond to some of the most dangerous animal health threats facing American agriculture.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Nov. 5 that annual funding for three major Farm Bill animal health programs will increase from $30 million to $233 million beginning in fiscal year 2026. The additional funding, authorized through the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts Act, represents a major expansion of the nation’s animal disease defense infrastructure at a time when threats such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and New World screwworm demand heightened vigilance.
For livestock producers across Indiana , the investment could have significant implications for protecting cattle, hogs, poultry and other livestock operations from potentially devastating disease outbreaks. A foreign animal disease introduction could trigger widespread animal movement restrictions, disrupt domestic and international markets, increase operating costs and threaten the financial stability of farms and rural communities. USDA says the expanded programs are designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent these threats from gaining a foothold, detect infections earlier and respond more effectively when outbreaks occur.
“This historic investment gives us the tools we need to protect farmers’ and ranchers’ herds, their livelihoods, and the rural communities they sustain,” said USDA Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins. “Farm security is national security, and with this increased funding, we are strengthening early disease detection, expanding vaccine and diagnostic stockpiles, and backing practical, on-the-ground projects that help producers prepare for and respond to the most serious animal disease threats.”
The expanded funding will support three critical programs: the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP), the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), and the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB).
$80 Million in New Competitive Funding Opens for State and Industry Preparedness
One of the most significant components of the announcement is the availability of up to $80 million in new competitive funding through NADPRP for fiscal year 2027.
The program will direct $40 million toward state and regional animal disease preparedness efforts and another $40 million toward projects designed to strengthen readiness across livestock industries and producer organizations.
The state funding opportunity is intended to improve the ability of state departments of agriculture, animal health officials and regional response organizations to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from foreign animal disease outbreaks.
The industry funding opportunity will support livestock producer organizations and veterinary organizations working to strengthen disease prevention, preparedness, response and recovery capabilities.
Both funding opportunities opened Nov. 5, with applications due Jan. 7, 2027. Selected projects are expected to begin in spring 2027.
The funding comes as animal health officials remain focused on several serious threats, including New World screwworm, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
USDA is also targeting emerging threats such as the Asian longhorned tick and Theileria orientalis Ikeda, a parasite transmitted by the tick that causes severe, currently untreatable disease in cattle.
For Indiana livestock producers, the ability to identify and contain these threats before they spread could make the difference between a localized animal health problem and an outbreak with devastating consequences for entire production sectors.
Beyond the $80 million in competitive grants, APHIS has allocated another $15 million to continue successful ongoing preparedness projects, $15 million for emerging and unexpected animal health needs, and $20 million for agency-led initiatives designed to address critical gaps in the nation’s animal disease response capabilities.
Laboratory Network Receives Another $10 Million to Strengthen Early Detection
Early detection remains one of the most important defenses against a devastating animal disease outbreak.
To strengthen that front line, USDA is investing additional resources in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, a coordinated system of federal, state and university-associated laboratories responsible for rapid, reliable diagnostic testing.
These laboratories play a critical role in identifying foreign and endemic high-consequence animal diseases, helping officials determine when and where a disease is spreading and allowing producers and animal health agencies to respond before an outbreak becomes more widespread.
APHIS provided $10 million in noncompetitive funding to NAHLN laboratories during FY26 and plans to provide another $10 million in FY27 for operational support.
The funding is intended to strengthen laboratory staffing, testing capacity and operational resources needed to support early detection, rapid response and recovery during animal disease emergencies.
For livestock operations throughout Indiana, a strong diagnostic network is essential. The faster animal health officials can identify a disease threat, the sooner they can implement containment measures, limit animal movement and help protect neighboring farms and livestock populations.
USDA Commits More Than $153 Million to Expand Vaccine and Disease Countermeasure Stockpiles
USDA is also making a substantial investment in the nation’s ability to respond if a major foreign animal disease reaches American livestock operations.
Through the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, APHIS maintains stockpiles of critical vaccines and veterinary tools designed to help contain high-consequence foreign animal diseases.
The program is particularly important in preparing for foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals.
An outbreak could have devastating consequences for Indiana livestock producers, potentially triggering widespread animal movement restrictions, trade disruptions, herd management challenges and significant financial losses.
APHIS has invested more than $85 million in the vaccine and countermeasures bank since FY2020. Under the expanded funding plan, the agency expects to invest more than $153 million during FY27 in additional foot-and-mouth disease vaccine antigen concentrate, diagnostic test kits and other countermeasures for high-consequence animal diseases.
Those resources are intended to provide critical protection and help accelerate the response and recovery process if a major disease outbreak occurs.
A Major Investment in Protecting America’s Livestock Industry
Taken together, the three programs represent a significant expansion of the federal government’s approach to animal disease preparedness.
By increasing annual funding from $30 million to $233 million, USDA is positioning federal, state and industry partners to make larger investments in disease prevention, laboratory testing, vaccine availability and emergency response capabilities.
For livestock producers across Indiana and Michigan, the stakes could hardly be higher. Cattle, hog and poultry operations depend on healthy animals, reliable markets and the ability to move livestock and agricultural products through established supply chains. A major disease outbreak could threaten all three, placing additional financial pressure on producers already navigating production costs, market uncertainty and other challenges.
USDA’s expanded investment provides additional resources to strengthen those defenses, although the ultimate effectiveness of the funding will depend on how quickly those resources translate into stronger state, laboratory and industry-level preparedness.
For producers, the message is clear: preventing the next major animal disease outbreak is becoming a national agricultural priority, backed by a substantial increase in federal resources.
Additional information about the NADPRP funding opportunities, including eligibility requirements, application instructions and funding priorities, is available at USDA APHIS National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.
More information about the three Farm Bill animal health programs is available through USDA APHIS Farm Bill Animal Health Programs.
