December 15, 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing nearly $2.8 million to several states to combat chronic wasting disease.

In October, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced more than $2.4 million will be awarded to 15 state departments of natural resources and one tribal nation. Five state departments of agriculture will receive a combined total of $349,531 to combat CWD.

The funds will allow these partners to further develop and implement CWD management, response, and research activities, including surveillance and testing. APHIS gave priority to states and tribes in states that have detected CWD and have a CWD monitoring and control program or that propose to create a control program.

Funding recipients include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin, along with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

APHIS used $200,000 to continue funding work on validating the use of predictive genetics in white-tailed deer. Additionally, $1.26 million was allocated for indemnity payments to producers to assist state agricultural agencies in controlling CWD by removing infected herds or exposed cervids.

“APHIS is committed to protecting agriculture and wildlife across the country, and slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease across our agricultural and wildlife landscapes contributes to that vital mission,” said Greg Ibach, USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, in a statement.