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2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
Table of Contents
Preface ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Agency-Wide ................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Purpose Statement.....................................................................................................................................................3
OIG and GAO Reports .............................................................................................................................................6
Available Funds and FTEs ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Permanent Positions by Grade and FTEs ................................................................................................................ 12
Vehicle Fleet ........................................................................................................................................................... 13
Motor Vehicle Fleet ................................................................................................................................................ 13
Aircraft .................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Shared Funding Projects ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Advertising Expenditures........................................................................................................................................ 17
Account 1: Salaries and Expenses ............................................................................................................................... 19
Appropriations Language........................................................................................................................................ 19
Lead-Off Tabular Statement ................................................................................................................................... 20
Project Statements................................................................................................................................................... 21
Justifications ........................................................................................................................................................... 30
Proposed Legislation ............................................................................................................................................... 66
Geographic Breakdown of Obligations and FTE .................................................................................................... 67
Classification by Objects ........................................................................................................................................ 72
Status of Programs .................................................................................................................................................. 77
Account 2: Buildings and Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 143
Appropriations Language...................................................................................................................................... 143
Lead-Off Tabular Statement ................................................................................................................................. 143
Project Statements................................................................................................................................................. 144
Justification ........................................................................................................................................................... 147
Geographic Breakdown of Obligations and FTE .................................................................................................. 148
Classification by Objects ...................................................................................................................................... 148
Status of Programs ................................................................................................................................................ 149
Agency-Wide Performance ....................................................................................................................................... 151
Summary of Performance ..................................................................................................................................... 151
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PREFACE
This publication summarizes the fiscal year 2024 Budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Throughout
this publication any reference to the “Budget” is in regard to the 2024 Budget, unless otherwise noted. All references to
years refer to fiscal year, except where specifically noted. The budgetary tables throughout this document show actual
amounts for 2021 and 2022, enacted levels for 2023, and the President’s Budget request for 2024. Amounts for 2023
estimated levels include: non-enacted amounts such as Full-Time Equivalent levels, fleet levels, information technology
investment levels, recovery levels, transfers in and out, balances available end of year, and obligation levels.
Throughout this publication, the “2018 Farm Bill” is used to refer to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Most
programs funded by the 2018 Farm Bill are funded through 2023. Amounts shown in 2024 for most Farm Bill programs
reflect those confirmed in the baseline.
Pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, sequestration is included in the numbers
for mandatory programs in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
AGENCY-WIDE
PURPOSE STATEMENT
The Secretary of Agriculture established the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 2, 1972,
under the authority of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 and other authorities. The mission of the Agency is to
safeguard the health, welfare, and value of American agriculture and natural resources.
APHIS, together with its stakeholders, promotes the health of animal and plant resources to facilitate their movement in
the global marketplace and to ensure abundant agricultural products and services for U.S. customers. APHIS also
ensures that biotechnology-derived agricultural products are safe for release in the environment. APHIS strives to
assure its stakeholders that it is on guard against the introduction or re-emergence of animal and plant pests and diseases
that could limit agricultural production and damage export markets. At the same time, APHIS also monitors and
responds to potential acts of agricultural bioterrorism, invasive species, diseases of wildlife and livestock, and conflicts
between humans and wildlife. The Agency also helps to resolve sanitary (animal) and phytosanitary (plant) trade
barriers and addresses certain issues relating to the humane treatment of animals.
APHIS’ mission is carried out using three major areas of activity, as follows:
Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response
APHIS monitors animal and plant health domestically. APHIS also monitors disease situations throughout the world
and uses this information to set effective agricultural import policies to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and
plant pests and diseases. APHIS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security cooperate to ensure that these policies
are enforced at U.S. ports of entry. These policies prevent the entry of many invasive pests and diseases, including those
that impact crops, pollinators, woodlands, and livestock. APHIS also develops and conducts pre-clearance programs to
ensure that foreign agricultural products destined for the United States do not present a risk to U.S. agriculture. The
Agency engages in cooperative programs to control pests of imminent concern to the United States. APHIS certifies
animal and animal products, and plants and plant products, for export to other countries and regulates imports of
designated endangered plant species.
Should a pest or disease enter the United States, APHIS works cooperatively with other Federal, State, and industry
partners to conduct animal and plant health monitoring programs to rapidly determine if there is a need to establish new
pest or disease management programs. APHIS, in conjunction with States, industry, and other stakeholders, protects
American agriculture by eradicating harmful pests and diseases or, where eradication is not feasible, by minimizing
their economic impact. The Agency monitors endemic pests and diseases through surveys to detect their location and
through inspection to prevent their spread into non-infested parts of the country.
The Agency maintains a cadre of trained professionals prepared to respond immediately to potential animal and plant
health emergencies. Program personnel investigate reports of suspected exotic pests and diseases and take emergency
action if necessary. To facilitate these efforts, APHIS develops pathway studies and thoroughly investigates outbreaks
to determine the origin of animal and plant pests and diseases and the most appropriate response actions to take
including the development of tools and technologies to help manage these pests. APHIS also actively engages State,
Tribal, and local governments, and industries to advance their emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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APHIS develops methods to control animals and pests that are detrimental to agriculture, wildlife, and public safety
through its Wildlife Services program. The Agency’s regulatory structure brings the benefits of genetic research to the
marketplace, while ensuring they do not pose a plant pest risk. APHIS also conducts diagnostic laboratory activities that
support the Agency’s veterinary disease prevention, detection, control, eradication, and response programs.
Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance
Sanitary (animal) and phytosanitary (plant) (SPS) measures implemented by U.S. trading partners can have a significant
impact on market access for the United States as an exporter of agricultural products. APHIS plays a central role in
resolving technical trade issues to ensure the smooth and safe movement of agricultural commodities into and out of the
United States. APHIS’ role is to negotiate animal and plant health certification requirements, assist U.S. exporters in
meeting foreign regulatory requirements, ensure requirements are proportional to risk without being excessively
restrictive, and provide any necessary technical information to support the safety of U.S. agricultural products destined
for foreign markets.
APHIS helps to protect the United States from emerging animal and plant pests and diseases while meeting obligations
under the World Trade Organization’s SPS agreement by assisting developing countries in improving their safeguarding
systems. APHIS collaborates with other Federal agencies including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. Agency
for International Development, the State Department, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to implement
technical and regulatory capacity building projects with shared resources. APHIS develops and implements programs
designed to identify and reduce agricultural pest and disease threats while still outside of U.S. borders, to enhance safe
agricultural trade, and to strengthen emergency response preparedness.
Animal Welfare
The Agency conducts regulatory activities to ensure the humane care and treatment of certain animals and horses as
required by the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 as amended (7 U.S.C. 2131-2159), and the Horse Protection Act of 1970
as amended (15 U.S.C. 1821-1831). These activities include inspection of certain establishments that handle animals
intended for research, exhibition, and sale as pets, and monitoring of certain horse shows.
Statutory Authorities
APHIS operates under the following authorities:
General:
7 U.S.C. 1633 Talmadge-Aiken Act (cooperation with States)
7 U.S.C. 7759
User Fees (for export certification of plants)
21 U.S.C. 136-136a User Fees
31 U.S.C. 9701 User Fees (offsetting collections and miscellaneous receipts)
7 U.S.C. 3291(a) Authority to provide technical assistance and training
7 U.S.C. 5623 Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (reporting on SPS issues and trade barriers)
7 U.S.C. 5925 Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (authorizes
funding for national honeybee pest survey)
7 U.S.C. 2279g Marketing Services; cooperative agreements
Animal Health:
7 U.S.C. 8301-8317 Animal Health Protection Act
7 U.S.C. 7501 note American Rescue Plan Act (COVID surveillance)
49 U.S.C. 80502 28-Hour Law (feed, water, and rest for animals)
19 U.S.C. 1202, Part I, Purebred animal duty-free entry
Item 100.01
7 U.S.C. 1622 Section 203 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946
7 U.S.C. 1624 Section 205 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946
7 U.S.C. 398 Section 101(d) of the Organic Act of l944
7 U.S.C. 3801-3813 Swine Health Protection Act
7 U.S.C. 851-855 Anti-hog cholera serum and hog cholera virus
7 U.S.C. 2274 Firearms (tick inspectors)
7 U.S.C. 1901 note Transportation of Equines to Slaughter
21 U.S.C. 151-159 Virus-Serum-Toxin Act
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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21 U.S.C. 113a Authority to establish research facilities for Foot-and-Mouth and other
diseases
21 U.S.C. 618 Section 18 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, as amended, as it pertains
to the issuance of certificates of condition of live animals for export
7 U.S.C. 8401 and 8411 Title II, Subtitles B and C of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism
Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
7 U.S.C. 8318 Section 10504 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(training of accredited veterinarians)
Plant Health:
7 U.S.C. 7701-7772; Plant Protection Act
and 7781-7786
7 U.S.C. 1581-1610 Title III, Federal Seed Act
7 U.S.C. 2801 note; 2814 Federal Noxious Weed Act
7 U.S.C. 281-286 Honeybee Act
7 U.S.C. 7760 Terminal Inspection Act
7 U.S.C. 2279e and 2279f Title V of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (penalties for
interfering with inspection animals)
16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 Endangered Species Act (plants)
16 U.S.C. 3371-3378 Lacey Act (importation or shipment of injurious mammals, birds, fish)
7 U.S.C. 8401 Title II, Subtitle B of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism
Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
39 U.S.C. 3015 Alien Species Prevention and Enforcement Act of 1992
Wildlife Services:
7 U.S.C. 8351-8354 Control of predatory and other wild animals
Animal Welfare:
7 U.S.C. 2131-2159 Animal Welfare Act
15 U.S.C. 1821-1831 Horse Protection Act
Staffing and Offices
There were 5,672 permanent full-time employees as of September 30, 2022. Of the total, 958 full-time employees were
located at headquarters. APHIS manages programs on a national basis through Hubs, regional offices and field offices,
area offices, telework and home workstations, technical centers, and animal import centers. APHIS conducts much of
its work in cooperation with State and local agencies, private groups, and foreign governments. APHIS performs work
in the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Mexico, Central America, South America, the
Caribbean, Western Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Each year, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits selected
programs to examine the efficiency of the programs and operations including program results, compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, and fair presentation of financial reports. Audits in which APHIS has been involved
during 2022 include those listed below.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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OIG AND GAO REPORTS
Table APHIS-1. Completed OIG Reports (Audit report has been issued and recommendation(s) have been
implemented.)
ID
Date
Title
Result
33601-02-31
07/2021
Animal Care Program
Oversight of Dog Breeders
Audit started September 2019. APHIS received
the final report on July 1, 2021, and the
Management Decision memo on July 22, 2021,
with OIG accepting plans to implement
recommendations #1-#3. APHIS will continue
to work with the programs to implement
recommendations. As of September 30, 2022,
the program indicates a new estimated
completion date of December 31, 2022, for
recommendations #1-#3.
33601-03-23
03/2021
Follow-up on APHIS
Controls Over Licensing of
Animal Exhibitors
Audit began in December 2019. OIG issued the
final audit report on March 12, 2021. On March
15, 2021, OIG provided APHIS with the official
Management Decision memo accepting the
Agency’s response to implement the four
recommendations. APHIS implemented
recommendations #1, #3, and #4.
Recommendation #2 is still pending.
33601-04-23
09/2021
Follow-Up on Smuggling,
Interdiction and Trade
Compliance
Audit started November 2019. OIG issued the
final report on September 30, 2021. OIG and
APHIS reached management decision on all 13
recommendations. The Achievement of
Management Decision Form was received on
October 6, 2021. Recommendations #1, #7, and
#10 closed in July 2022. The remaining 10
outstanding recommendations are scheduled for
closure by December 2022.
33701-01-21
08/2018
National Veterinary
Stockpile Oversight
OIG report was issued with eight
recommendations. Of the eight, seven have
closed. APHIS is working to close
recommendation #7 related to a Veterinary
Services training program which was delayed
due to the pandemic conditions and now has an
estimated completion date of December 2022.
33701-02-21
07/2021
Controls Over Select
Agents
Audit started October 2019 and the OIG close-
out meeting was held in October 2020. OIG
issued the final report on July 28, 2021,
accepting 3 of the 11 Agency responses.
Recommendations #2, #5, and #9 were
accepted. The second response for the
remaining eight recommendations was sent to
OIG September 30, 2021. On October 20, 2021,
OIG accepted for recommendations #3, #4, #8,
and #11, leaving recommendations #1, #6, #7,
and #10 pending. Recommendations #2, #5, and
#11 closed by August 2022. Recommendations
#1, #3, #4, #6-#8, and #10 are scheduled for
closure by December 2022. Recommendation
#9 is scheduled for closure by March 2023.
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ID
Date
Title
Result
50601-01-32
11/2013
Controls Over APHIS’
Introduction of Genetically
Engineered Organisms
OIG report was issued with 13
recommendations. Of the 13 recommendations,
12 have been closed. APHIS is working on
recommendation #8 pending implementation of
the e-File system which experienced contractor
and pandemic-related delays. The estimated
completion date is December 2022.
50701-01-21
09/2018
Release Permits USDA
Activities for Agro-
terrorism Prevention,
Detection and Response
OIG report was issued with five
recommendations for APHIS. Audit included
ARS and FSIS. Of the recommendations, two
have been closed. Recommendation #1 closed
on June 3, 2022. APHIS is working on
recommendations #4 and #5 that require
additional support and reconciliation to
complete. The estimated completion date is
December 2022.
Table APHIS-2. In-Progress OIG Reports
ID
Title
33601-01-21
Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program - Audit started November
2019. OIG issued the official draft report on August 15, 2022, and issued a revised version on
October 24, 2022. APHIS issued its official response on October 31, 2022. OIG is scheduled to
issue its final report on November 2022.
33601-03-41
Cattle Health Program Disease Incident Response – Audit began in October 2020. OIG briefed
APHIS on the status of their work on March 29, 2021. OIG issued the official draft report on
September 29, 2022. APHIS was provided an extension and a response is being prepared.
Table APHIS-3. Closed GAO Reports (Audit report has been issued and recommendation(s) have been
implemented.)
ID
Title
102051
USDA’s Preparedness for Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Audit included other USDA agencies.
GAO issued the report on March 12, 2019, with two recommendations for APHIS. All
recommendations have been implemented and closed as of February 7, 2022. The Audit included
ARS, ERS, NIFA, OCS, and the Office of the Economist. APHIS was the lead agency for this
audit.
103549
Federal Government’s Use of Internet of Things Technologies - Audit started December 2019.
GAO issued its survey, and Federal agencies provided their completed surveys in January 2020.
GAO Audit Report 20-577 was issued on August 13, 2020, with no recommendations for
APHIS.
103992
Animals for Testing, Research and Trauma Training - GAO requested follow-up concerning
information facilities place on the APHIS Form 7023d. GAO and APHIS’ Animal Care held a
teleconference in April 2020. A follow-up meeting was held in October 2020, for APHIS to
provide a demonstration of how information/data is collected electronically in the Agency’s e-
File system. This audit is being performed by GAO’s Defense Capabilities and Management
Team. GAO requested follow-up information concerning the information Facilities place on the
APHIS Form 7023d. Statement of Facts received August 20, 2021. Report was issued May 2022
with no recommendations for APHIS.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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ID
Title
104292
Biodefense Preparedness and Response - GAO provided follow-up responses and has asked for
APHIS’ written responses by December 2020. APHIS provided written responses in November
2020. GAO issued the final report on Aug 04, 2021, with no recommendations for APHIS.
104351
Monitoring and Oversight of Response to the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic - GAO started the
audit for its November 2020 report to Congress. GAO provided APHIS with written questions
and has requested that APHIS provided written responses by October 2020. Food and Nutrition
Service is the lead agency. GAO issued the final report with no recommendations for APHIS.
291264
High-Containment Laboratories: Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Policies and Stronger
Oversight Mechanisms Needed to Improve Safety - GAO issued the report with five
recommendations for APHIS on March 12, 2016. APHIS implemented all recommendations. All
recommendations have been closed as of January 27, 2022. Audit included APHIS and other
USDA and Federal agencies. APHIS, ARS, and FSIS provided GAO with additional information
for the closure of the recommendations process.
Table APHIS-4. Completed GAO Reports
ID
Date
Title
Result
100267
03/2017
Federal Actions to Monitor
and Control Antibiotic
Resistance in Food and
Animals
Audit includes APHIS, other USDA, and Federal
agencies. GAO issued the final report in 2017 with
one recommendation which has three parts for
APHIS. All three-parts have been implemented
and are closed. Parts #1 and #2 were closed on
November 3, 2021. Part #3 closed on April 12,
2022.
101985
05/2018
Multilateral Organizations
Animal Use in Federal
Research: Agencies Share
Information, but Reporting
and Data Quality Could Be
Strengthened
GAO issued the final report on May 18, 2018,
with four recommendations for APHIS. APHIS
anticipates implementation of all four
recommendations by November 2022.
361589
04/2016
Genetically Engineered
Crops
The audit includes APHIS and USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service. GAO issued the
report March 5, 2016. Recommendation #1 was
closed October 2021. Recommendations #2 and #3
are open and under review for administrative
closure.
Table APHIS-5. In-Progress GAO Reports
ID
Title
105804
GAO review of USDA Employee Civil Rights Complaints (105804). On October 28. 2022, GAO
is conducted a review of USDA employee civil rights complaints, as directed by the Agricultural
Improvement Act of 2018. This review is part of the Civil Rights Mandate (104716) review, but
the portion about employee complaints has been spun off to this separate review (105804). GAO
is scheduled to meet with APHIS in November 2022. APHIS is not the lead agency for this
review.
105238
Federal Efforts to Address Zoonotic Diseases, Audit Notification Date: 06/24/2021. GAO
announced this audit on June 28, 2021. GAO held the entrance conference on July 12, 2021. GAO
is focused on APHIS’s Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health internal ongoing risk
assessment and identification processes. Inquiries and meetings with key APHIS personnel are
ongoing.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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ID
Title
104338
Inspection of Imported Agriculture - In keeping with the new Departmental guidance, GAO
provided written questions in lieu of holding an entrance teleconference. APHIS provided GAO
written responses in August 2020. APHIS held a meeting to discuss GAO’s Statement of Facts on
March 31, 2021. GAO issued the final report on June 1, 2021, with two recommendations for
APHIS. As the lead Agency, APHIS will work with Customs and Border Protection to complete
the two recommendations.
104489
Welfare of Federal Working Dog - Audit began in September 2020. APHIS provided written
responses to GAO questions in October 2020 and continues to provide written responses, as the
lead agency. GAO expects to send APHIS the Statement of Facts by the end of May 2021. Audit
also involves USDA Forest Service (FS). FS sent APHIS documents in June 2021, APHIS
forwarded them to GAO. On October 18, 2021, GAO requested further information. Response
and information were provided October 29, 2021, and November 16, 2021. On August 4, 2022,
GAO provided a draft report for Agency Comment on the Welfare of Federal Working Dogs
(JC104489). GAO transmitted the final report to APHIS in October 2022. APHIS prepared the
Statement of Action to address the recommendation.
Table APHIS-6. New GAO Reports
ID
Date
Title
Result
105445
Audit
Notification
02/17/2022
GAO-23-105445,
Consumer Product Safety
Commission: Action
Needed to Improve
Preparedness for Product
Examination Disruptions.
GAO will issue a report in October 2022.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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AVAILABLE FUNDS AND FTES
Table APHIS-7. Available Funds and FTEs (thousands of dollars, FTEs)
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Salaries and Expenses:
Discretionary Appropriations .........................
$1,064,179
4,855
$1,110,218
4,922
$1,171,071
5,035
$1,188,788
4,993
Citrus Greening General Provision 739 .........
8,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cogongrass General Provision 797 ................
5,312
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cogongrass General Provision 775 ................
-
-
3,000
-
-
-
-
-
Mandatory Appropriations .............................
Farm Bill - Section 7721 ................................
70,725
26
70,725
26
70,725
26
70,725
26
Farm Bill - Section 12101 ..............................
-
-
-
-
28,290
2
28,290
2
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fees
Total Collections ............................................
337,810
1,325
595,853
1,325
759,846
1,325
822,321
1,325
AQI User Fees General Provision 799D ........
635,000
200
-
-
-
-
-
-
AQI User Fees General Provision 785 ...........
-
-
250,000
-
-
-
-
-
American Rescue Plan Act .............................
300,000
335
-
-
-
-
-
-
Supplemental Appropriations .........................
AQI User Fees General Provision 2102 .........
-
-
-
-
125,000
-
-
-
Buildings and Facilities:
Discretionary Appropriations .........................
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
Trust Funds:
Mandatory Appropriations .............................
Mandatory Appropriations .............................
8,063
50
12,222
50
9,000
50
9,000
50
Total Discretionary Appropriations ................
1,081,166
4,855
1,116,393
4,922
1,174,246
5,035
1,191,963
4,993
Total Mandatory Appropriations ....................
1,351,598
1,936
928,800
1,401
867,861
1,403
930,336
1,403
Total Supplemental Appropriations ...............
-
-
-
-
125,000
-
-
-
Rescission ......................................................
-2,312
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers In ....................................................
500,000
300
739,791
154
-
-
-
-
Transfers Out..................................................
-533,104
-
-589,732
-
-639,000
-
-577,500
-
Total Adjusted Appropriation ........................
2,397,349
7,091
2,195,252
6,477
1,528,107
6,438
1,544,799
6,396
Balance Available, SOY ................................
401,571
745
1,400,691
1,646
1,567,112
1,645
929,275
1,419
Recoveries, Other ...........................................
37,803
-
21,280
-
-
-
-
-
Total Available ...............................................
2,836,723
7,836
3,617,223
8,123
3,095,220
8,083
2,474,074
7,815
Lapsing Balances ...........................................
-833
-325
-1,628
-699
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, EOY ................................
-1,400,691
-1,646
-1,567,112
-1,645
-929,275
-1,419
-731,177
-1,266
Subtotal Obligations, APHIS .........................
1,435,199
5,865
2,048,483
5,779
2,165,945
6,664
1,742,897
6,549
Total Obligations, APHIS ..............................
1,435,199
5,865
2,048,483
5,779
2,165,945
6,664
1,742,897
6,549
Obligations Under Other USDA
Appropriations:
Agricultural Marketing Service ......................
27,523
29
29,452
60
29,450
48
29,450
48
Agricultural Research Service ........................
31,550
67
33,617
63
33,620
55
33,620
55
Food Safety and Inspection Service ...............
16
-
19
-
20
-
20
-
Foreign Agricultural Service ..........................
4,218
15
3,874
56
3,870
40
3,870
40
Forest Service .................................................
770
4
681
8
680
8
680
8
National Appeals Division .............................
4
-
5
-
5
-
5
-
National Institute of Food and Agriculture.....
-
-
154
1
150
1
150
1
Natural Resources Conservation Service .......
39
-
108
1
110
1
110
1
Office of Chief Economist .............................
83
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
Office of the Chief Information Officer .........
166
1
84
-
80
-
80
-
Office of the Secretary ...................................
119
-
119
-
120
-
120
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-11
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Total, Other USDA ........................................
64,488
116
68,118
190
68,109
153
68,109
153
Total, Agriculture Appropriations ..................
1,499,687
5,981
2,116,600
5,969
2,234,054
6,817
1,811,006
6,702
Other Federal Funds:
DOD, U.S. Air Force......................................
13,175
129
13,737
122
13,740
122
13,740
122
DOD, Air National Guard ..............................
4,608
45
5,815
52
5,810
52
5,810
52
DOD, U.S. Navy ............................................
7,293
71
8,039
72
8,040
72
8,040
72
DOD, U.S. Marine Corps ...............................
1,394
14
1,400
13
1,400
12
1,400
12
DOD, U.S. Army ............................................
2,663
25
2,647
22
2,650
22
2,650
22
DOD, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers ..............
1,963
19
2,318
21
2,320
21
2,320
21
DOD, Defense Threat Reduction Agency ......
98
-
6
-
6
-
6
-
Department of Energy ....................................
312
3
385
3
380
3
380
3
Department of Health and Human Services ...
18
-
475
1
480
1
480
1
DHS: for Coast Guard & other services &
support ...........................................................
548
4
606
3
610
3
610
3
Federal Emergency Management Agency ......
7,794
27
459
11
460
11
460
11
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration ...............................................
378
4
527
5
530
5
530
5
Office of Insular Affairs .................................
2,035
20
2,550
23
2,550
20
2,550
20
USDOI, Bureau of Land Mgmt &
Reclamation:
for administrative and technical
support ...........................................................
1,046
7
1,284
6
1,280
6
1,280
6
USDOI, Fish and Wildlife Services: for
natural resources and endangered species ......
2,784
27
3,560
31
3,560
20
3,560
20
USDOT: Federal Aviation Administration.....
1,265
12
1,468
13
1,470
13
1,470
13
Department of Veterans Affairs for
miscellaneous services ...................................
32
-
32
-
30
-
30
-
Environmental Protection Agency .................
1,449
14
1,871
17
1,870
15
1,870
15
GSA: for miscellaneous services ....................
15
-
6
-
10
-
10
-
Other Federal Funds .......................................
744
6
540
1
540
1
540
1
Total, Other Federal .......................................
49,614
427
47,726
416
47,736
400
47,736
400
Non-Federal Funds:
Funds from organizations, states, & local
entities for wildlife, plant, & animal services
support ...........................................................
68,354
659
68,311
663
68,400
663
68,400
663
Import-Export User Fees ................................
39,212
287
42,818
296
43,032
296
43,247
296
Phytosanitary Certificate User Fees ...............
21,981
147
19,530
148
19,627
148
19,726
148
Reimbursable Overtime .................................
9,207
76
12,411
105
12,473
95
12,536
95
Veterinary Diagnostics User Fees ..................
5,542
28
6,417
45
6,449
30
6,481
30
Other User Fees ..............................................
98
-
191
-
192
-
193
-
Total, Non-Federal .........................................
144,393
1,197
149,678
1,258
150,174
1,232
150,583
1,232
Total Available, APHIS .................................
1,693,694
7,605
2,314,004
7,643
2,431,964
8,449
2,009,325
8,334
Note: The details associated with Supplemental appropriations provided to the Office of the Secretary, but implemented in this Agency,
are found in the USDA Budget Summary and are not reflected above.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-12
P
ERMANENT POSITIONS BY GRADE AND FTES
Table APHIS-8. Permanent Positions by Grade and FTEs
Item
D.C.
Field
2021
Actual
Total
D.C.
Field
2022
Actual
Total
D.C.
Field
2023
Estimated
Total
D.C.
Field
2024
Estimated
Total
SES............................
32
8
40
30
8
38
30
8
38
30
8
38
GS-15 ........................
86
63
149
75
84
159
77
86
163
76
85
160
GS-14 ........................
360
331
691
283
441
724
291
453
743
286
445
731
GS-13 ........................
310
607
917
244
681
925
250
699
950
246
687
933
GS-12 ........................
153
895
1,048
140
925
1,065
144
950
1,093
141
933
1,075
GS-11 ........................
102
751
853
76
773
849
78
794
872
77
780
857
GS-10 ........................
1
10
11
-
13
13
-
13
13
-
13
13
GS-9 ..........................
79
486
565
50
487
537
51
500
551
50
491
542
GS-8 ..........................
6
244
250
6
238
244
6
244
250
6
240
246
GS-7 ..........................
45
611
656
33
607
640
34
623
657
33
613
646
GS-6 ..........................
7
195
202
3
166
169
3
170
173
3
168
171
GS-5 ..........................
6
87
93
7
130
137
7
133
141
7
131
138
GS-4 ..........................
4
21
25
3
14
17
3
14
17
3
14
17
GS-3 ..........................
-
4
4
-
3
3
-
3
3
-
3
3
Other Graded .............
16
131
147
8
144
152
8
148
156
8
145
153
Ungraded ...................
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total Permanent ........
1,207
4,444
5,651
958
4,714
5,672
983
4,840
5,822
967
4,757
5,724
Total Perm. FT EOY .
1,207
4,444
5,651
958
4,714
5,672
983
4,840
5,822
967
4,757
5,724
FTE ...........................
1,480
6,125
7,605
1,223
6,420
7,643
1,352
7,097
8,449
1,333
7,001
8,334
Note: In addition to these numbers above, there are temporary positions as well.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-13
V
EHICLE FLEET
Motor Vehicle Fleet
APHIS uses vehicles to deliver mission critical services. The Agency’s veterinarians, animal health technicians,
inspectors, plant protection and quarantine officers, wildlife biologists, and other technical personnel use motor vehicles
in their daily responsibilities. This entails travel between inspection sites, farms, ranches, ports, nurseries, and other
commercial firms. In some cases, APHIS’ cooperators use Agency vehicles as authorized in program cooperative
agreements.
Operators are required to keep historical maintenance records and submit the vehicles’ operational and cost data for
review, and report on the vehicle’s condition and usage statistics at least once a year to maximize the life span of
vehicles. Periodic maintenance surveys and reviews of consolidated vehicle fleet data ensure optimal use of each
vehicle in the fleet.
In late 2022, APHIS purchased 2,315 telematics devices to retrofit all agency-owned vehicles to comply with the
Agricultural Property Management Regulation (AGPMR) 21-01. USDA requires all agency owned vehicles are
equipped with telematics to provide real-time, accurate vehicle data for future fleet decisions, and performance
assessment on or after 2021. With the telematics devices, APHIS also purchased 850 National Finance Center (NFC)
card readers and 620 key fobs to eliminate the need for drivers to manually complete vehicle logs. The NFC card
readers are only assigned to the vehicles used by multiple employees. Each employee will use his or her LincPass
(Personal Identification Verification card) to swipe in and out of the vehicle. The employee that does not have a
LincPass will be assigned a key fob to use. APHIS expects to have all devices installed by the end of December 2022.
Replacement Criteria
APHIS replaces vehicles in accordance with Title 41, CFR § 102–34.270. Agency programs replace and retire vehicles
using data on utilization, age, condition, and funding availability. Vehicles not meeting USDA utilization criteria are
required to be justified by the programs for review and approval of the Associate Deputy Administrator for Marketing
and Regulatory Programs Business Services before they can be replaced. The average age of APHIS’ vehicle fleet is six
years.
To comply with the President’s Executive Order, 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal
Sustainability, APHIS developed a Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) Strategy Operational Plan to replace petroleum-
based vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). Additionally, APHIS completed the USDA Zero-Emission Vehicles
Strategic Plan to project the number of EVs will be acquired and the number of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
(also known as charging stations) will be installed in 2023 through 2026, to meet the E.O. 14057 target dates. APHIS
projects that the vehicle acquisition and fleet operating costs will increase in 2023 and 2024 due higher prices of ZEVs
and fees to install charging stations.
APHIS uses the USDA Lifecycle Model to perform an owning versus leasing analysis to determine which option would
be the most cost effective. The Lifecycle Model complies with the Federal Management Regulation, Bulletin B-43,
Vehicle Allocation Methodology. Vehicles cannot be acquired without the documented analysis of the Lifecycle Model.
Reductions to Fleet
APHIS ended 2022 with 4,256 vehicles (leased and owned), which is an increase of 43 vehicles from the previous year.
APHIS’ fleet remains under the 2018 vehicle inventory-based line number of 4,595 because the vehicles purchased in
2022, still have not been received. The vehicle supply and production challenges continue to delay the vehicle delivery
dates. APHIS’ fleet will increase slightly each fiscal year until all the vehicles purchased are received but will still stay
within the vehicle inventory target approved by USDA.
23-14
Table AES-9. Size, Composition, and Annual Costs of Motor Vehicle Fleet
Note: Number of vehicles by type include vehicles owned by the agency and leased from commercial sources or GSA.
Annual Operating Costs excludes acquisition costs and gains from sale of vehicles as shown in FAST.
Sedans
and
Station
Wagons
Vans
SUVs
Light
Trucks
4X2
Light
Trucks
4X4
Medium
Duty
Vehicles
Buses
Heavy
Duty
Vehicles
Total
Vehicles
Annual
Operating
Costs
2018 End of Year Operating Inventory ...
246
118
955
272
2,092
896
0
16
4,595
$19,456,575
2021 End of Year Operating Inventory ...
167
88
870
218
1,954
903
0
13
4,213
19,535,169
2022 Planned Acquisitions ..........................
6
0
90
14
498
126
0
2
736
2022 Planned Disposals ...............................
8
0
71
6
371
81
0
2
539
2022 End of Year Operating Inventory ...
159
88
845
210
2,005
934
0
15
4,256
22,485,364
2023 Planned Acquisitions ..........................
11
6
51
5
243
38
0
0
354
2023 Planned Disposals ...............................
11
7
51
4
209
34
0
0
316
2023 End of Year Operating Inventory ...
159
87
845
211
2,039
938
0
15
4,294
28,223,247
2024 Planned Acquisitions ..........................
2
1
20
4
209
23
0
0
259
2024 Planned Disposals ...............................
2
1
20
4
186
18
0
0
231
2024 End of Year Operating Inventory ...
159
87
845
211
2,062
943
0
15
4,322
34,794,239
23-15
Table APHIS-10. Statement of Proposed Purchase of Passenger Motor Vehicles
Net Active
Fleet, SOY
Disposals
Replacements
Additions
Total
Acquisitions
Net Active
Fleet, EOY
2021
193
-26
6
0
6
167
2022
167
-8
0
0
0
159
2023
159
0
11
0
11
159
2024
159
0
2
0
2
159
Aircraft
APHIS uses aircraft to conduct mission critical activities such as aerial resource and surveillance surveys, aerial
application tests, equipment demonstration and testing, implementation of methods for the control and/or eradication
of destructive plant pests or wildlife to reduce damage to agricultural crops, among others.
The annual appropriations act provides APHIS with authority to purchase, replace, operate, and maintain aircraft.
The Agency replaces aircraft when necessary to maintain fleet safety and efficient operating conditions.
The APHIS aircraft fleet consists of 80 aircraft, of which 7 operable aircraft and 1 non-operational aircraft are used
for domestic plant pest and disease management programs and are owned. Of the remaining 72 aircraft used for the
wildlife damage management programs, 65 are owned, 5 are borrowed from State cooperators, and 2 are rented. Of
the 65 owned aircraft, 10 are non-operational. APHIS uses the non-operational aircraft for parts. APHIS is working
to repair aircraft acquired from the Department of Defense in 2023. These aircraft will be used to retire legacy war-
era aircraft currently in the fleet.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-16
S
HARED FUNDING PROJECTS
Table APHIS-11. Shared Funding Projects (thousands of dollars)
Item
2021
Actual
2022
Actual
2023
Estimated
2024
Estimated
Working Capital Fund:
Administrative Services:
Material Management Service ...................................................................
$1,107
$1,161
$1,279
$1,202
Mail and Reproduction Services ................................................................
151
319
339
387
Integrated Procurement Systems ................................................................
1,631
1,471
1,462
1,750
Personnel and Document Security .............................................................
-
-
-
413
Procurement Operations Services ..............................................................
85
55
59
44
Human Resources Enterprise Management Systems .................................
153
145
149
159
AskUSDA Contact Center .........................................................................
-
-
-
971
Subtotal ......................................................................................................
3,127
3,151
3,288
4,926
Communications:
Creative Media & Broadcast Center ..........................................................
848
8,055
251
897
Finance and Management:
National Finance Center .............................................................................
2,247
2,187
2,154
2,441
Internal Control Support Services ..............................................................
116
119
93
107
Financial Shared Services ..........................................................................
10,513
10,201
10,078
10,578
Subtotal ......................................................................................................
12,876
12,507
12,325
13,126
Information Technology:
Client Experience Center ...........................................................................
36,724
32,202
41,861
33,817
Department Administration Information Technology Office .....................
-
7
-
-
Digital Infrastructure Services Center ........................................................
14,150
7,966
12,831
10,796
Enterprise Cybersecurity Services .............................................................
-
-
-
2,588
Enterprise Data and Analytics Services .....................................................
-
-
-
1,031
Enterprise Network Services ......................................................................
9,147
7,181
6,586
10,362
Subtotal ......................................................................................................
60,021
47,356
61,278
58,594
Office of the Executive Secretariat ............................................................
991
1,252
1,252
435
Total, Working Capital Fund .....................................................................
77,863
72,321
78,394
77,978
Department-Wide Shared Cost Programs:
Advisory Committee Liaison Services .......................................................
5
7
6
6
Agency Partnership Outreach.....................................................................
547
488
635
635
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility ...........................................
-
-
169
169
Human Resources Priority Goals ...............................................................
1
-
322
322
Medical Services ........................................................................................
40
38
28
28
National Capital Region Interpreting Services ...........................................
101
64
251
251
Office of Customer Experience ..................................................................
766
674
254
254
Personnel and Document Security .............................................................
223
223
-
-
Physical Security ........................................................................................
340
329
360
360
Security Detail ...........................................................................................
366
348
410
410
Security Operations ....................................................................................
514
479
557
557
Talent Group ..............................................................................................
-
-
285
285
TARGET Center ........................................................................................
94
99
138
138
USDA Enterprise Data Analytics Services ................................................
431
340
-
-
Total, Department-Wide Reimbursable Programs .....................................
3,428
3,089
3,415
3,415
E-Gov:
Budget Formulation and Execution Line of Business ................................
8
8
7
7
E-Rulemaking ............................................................................................
44
42
47
39
Financial Management Line of Business ...................................................
12
13
13
13
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-17
Item
2021
Actual
2022
Actual
2023
Estimated
2024
Estimated
Geospatial Line of Business .......................................................................
13
13
13
13
Grants.gov ................................................................................................ 8
-
3
-
-
Human Resources Line of Business ...........................................................
24
22
23
23
Integrated Acquisition Environment ..........................................................
110
37
49
43
Hiring Assessment Tool .............................................................................
-
18
-
-
Total, E-Gov ..............................................................................................
211
156
152
138
Agency Total ..............................................................................................
81,502
75,566
81,961
81,531
ADVERTISING EXPENDITURES
Table APHIS-12. Advertising Expenditures (thousands of dollars)
Item
2022
Actual
Number of
Contracts
2022
Actual
Dollars
Obligated
2023
Estimated
Number of
Contracts
2023
Estimated
Dollars
Obligated
2024
Estimated
Number of
Contracts
2024
Estimated
Dollars
Obligated
Total Contracts for Advertising Services ........
6
$4,789
6
$3,153
6
$3,047
Contracts for Advertising Services to
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged
Small Businesses ............................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
Contracts for Advertising Services to
Women-Owned and Minority-Owned Small
Businesses .......................................................
1
333
-
-
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-18
This page was intentionally left blank.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-19
A
CCOUNT 1: SALARIES AND EXPENSES
APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE
The appropriations language follows (new language underscored; deleted matter enclosed in brackets)
Salaries and Expenses
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
For necessary expenses of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, including up to $30,000 for
representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085),
[$1,171,071,000]$1,188,788,000, [of which up to $9,552,000 shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts,
specified for this account in the table titled “Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed
Spending in the explanatory statement described in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this
consolidated Act);] of which [$514,000]$543,000, to remain available until expended, shall be available
for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and
birds ("contingency fund") to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions; of which
[$15,450,000]$15,737,000, to remain available until expended, shall be used for the cotton pests program,
including for cost share purposes or for debt retirement for active eradication zones; of which
[$39,183,000]$40,067,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for Animal Health Technical
Services; of which [$4,096,000]$3,166,000, shall be for activities under the authority of the Horse
Protection Act of 1970, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1831); of which [$64,930,000]$66,324,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be used to support avian health; of which [$4,251,000]$7,451,000, to
remain available until expended, shall be for information technology infrastructure; of which
[$216,117,000]$222,037,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for specialty crop pests; of
which $8,500,000, to remain available until September 30, [2024]2025, shall be for one-time control and
management and associated activities directly related to the multiple-agency response to citrus greening; of
which, [$14,986,000]$15,425,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for field crop and
rangeland ecosystem pests; of which [$21,567,000]$24,430,000, to remain available until expended, shall
be for zoonotic disease management; of which [$44,067,000]$45,198,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for emergency preparedness and response; of which [$62,562,000]$64,272,000, to
remain available until expended, shall be for tree and wood pests; of which [$6,500,000]$5,813,000, to
remain available until expended, shall be for the National Veterinary Stockpile; of which $6,016,000, to
remain available until expended, shall be for invasive species control in coordination with other Federal
agencies and the Civilian Climate Corps; of which up to $1,500,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be for the scrapie program for indemnities; of which $2,500,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be for the wildlife damage management program for aviation safety: Provided, That of amounts
available under this heading for wildlife services methods development, $1,000,000 shall remain available
until expended: Provided further, That of amounts available under this heading for the screwworm
program, $4,990,000 shall remain available until expended; of which [$24,527,000]$24,820,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be used to carry out the science program and transition activities for the
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility located in Manhattan, Kansas: Provided further, That no funds
shall be used to formulate or administer a brucellosis eradication program for the current fiscal year that
does not require minimum matching by the States of at least 40 percent: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available for the purchase, replacement, operation, and maintenance of aircraft:
Provided further, That in addition, in emergencies which threaten any segment of the agricultural
production industry of the United States, the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations or funds
available to the agencies or corporations of the Department such sums as may be deemed necessary, to be
available only in such emergencies for the arrest and eradication of contagious or infectious disease or
pests of animals, poultry, or plants, and for expenses in accordance with sections 10411 and 10417 of the
Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8310 and 8316) and sections 431 and 442 of the Plant Protection
Act (7 U.S.C. 7751 and 7772), and any unexpended balances of funds transferred for such emergency
purposes in the preceding fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred amounts: Provided further,
That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the repair and
alteration of leased buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of altering any one
building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building.
In fiscal year [2023]2024, the agency is authorized to collect fees to cover the total costs of providing
technical assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other political subdivisions, domestic and
international organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided that such fees are structured
such that any entity's liability for such fees is reasonably based on the technical assistance, goods, or
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-20
53
54
services provided to the entity by the agency, and such fees shall be reimbursed to this account, to remain
available until expended, without further appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or services.
The first change (lines 3 - 6) removes language as the 2024 Budget does not propose funding Congressionally
Directed Spending projects.
The second change (lines 24 - 26) adds language related to a new program for invasive species control in
coordination with other Federal agencies and the Civilian Climate Corps.
LEAD-OFF TABULAR STATEMENT
Table APHIS-13. Lead-Off Tabular Statement (In dollars)
Item
Amount
Estimate, 2023
$1,171,071,000
Change in Appropriation
+ 17,717,000
Budget Estimate, 2024
1,188,788,000
23-21
PROJECT STATEMENTS
Table APHIS-14. Project Statement on Basis of Appropriations (thousands of dollars, FTE)
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
Chg
Key
Discretionary Appropriations:
Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response
Animal Health Technical Services ..................................................
$38,093
151
$38,486
151
$39,183
151
$40,067
151
+$884
-
(1)
Aquatic Animal Health ...................................................................
2,272
13
2,306
13
5,000
18
6,461
18
+1,461
-
(2)
Avian Health ...................................................................................
63,213
238
63,833
238
64,930
238
66,324
238
+1,394
-
(3)
Cattle Health ...................................................................................
105,216
493
108,500
493
111,771
493
103,658
493
-8,113
-
(4)
Equine, Cervid & Small Ruminant Health ......................................
28,982
116
32,284
116
35,319
116
32,498
116
-2,821
-
(5)
National Veterinary Stockpile .........................................................
5,736
6
5,751
6
6,500
6
5,813
6
-687
-
(6)
Swine Health ...................................................................................
25,020
142
25,390
142
26,044
142
31,624
147
+5,580
+5
(7)
Veterinary Biologics .......................................................................
20,570
126
20,898
126
21,479
126
22,217
126
+738
-
(8)
Veterinary Diagnostics ....................................................................
56,979
167
61,414
196
63,777
196
63,425
196
-352
-
(9)
Zoonotic Disease Management .......................................................
19,620
62
20,282
62
21,567
62
24,430
70
+2,863
+8
(10)
Subtotal, Animal Health ..................................................................
365,701
1,514
379,144
1,543
395,570
1,548
396,517
1,561
+947
+13
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated) ........................
32,893
367
33,849
367
35,541
367
37,690
367
+2,149
-
(11)
Cotton Pests ....................................................................................
13,597
49
14,725
49
15,450
49
15,737
49
+287
-
(12)
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests.....................................
10,942
75
11,137
75
14,986
77
15,425
77
+439
-
(13)
Pest Detection .................................................................................
27,733
186
28,218
186
29,075
186
30,164
186
+1,089
-
(14)
Plant Protection Methods Development ..........................................
20,884
128
21,217
128
22,557
130
22,556
128
-1
-2
(15)
Specialty Crop Pests........................................................................
196,553
768
209,553
791
216,117
796
222,037
801
+5,920
+5
(16)
Tree & Wood Pests .........................................................................
60,456
292
61,217
292
62,562
292
64,272
292
+1,710
-
(17)
Subtotal, Plant Health .....................................................................
363,058
1,865
379,916
1,888
396,288
1,897
407,881
1,900
+11,593
+3
Wildlife Damage Management .......................................................
111,647
574
116,312
587
121,957
623
122,897
587
+940
-36
(18)
Wildlife Services Methods Development ........................................
21,046
122
23,363
122
26,244
126
25,658
126
-586
-
(19)
Subtotal, Wildlife Services ..............................................................
132,693
696
139,675
709
148,201
749
148,555
713
+354
-36
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-22
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
Chg
Key
Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement ............................
16,400
114
16,697
114
18,722
120
19,390
120
+668
-
(20)
Biotechnology Regulatory Services ................................................
19,020
93
19,262
93
19,691
93
23,916
110
+4,225
+17
(21)
Subtotal, Regulatory Services .........................................................
35,420
207
35,959
207
38,413
213
43,306
230
+4,893
+17
Civilian Climate Corps ....................................................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,016
5
+6,016
+5
(22)
Contingency Fund ...........................................................................
478
5
491
5
514
5
543
5
+29
-
(23)
Emergency Preparedness & Response ............................................
41,268
193
42,021
193
44,067
197
45,198
197
+1,131
-
(24)
Subtotal, Emergency Management .................................................
41,746
198
42,512
198
44,581
202
51,757
207
7,176
+5
Subtotal, Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response ....
938,618
4,480
977,206
4,545
1,023,053
4,609
1,048,016
4,611
24,963
+2
Agriculture Import/Export ..............................................................
15,722
79
17,928
81
19,292
84
17,766
81
-1,526
-3
(25)
Overseas Technical & Trade Operation ..........................................
24,198
52
24,333
52
25,572
57
28,976
57
+3,404
-
(26)
Subtotal, Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance ..........
39,920
131
42,261
133
44,864
141
46,742
138
1,878
-3
Animal Welfare ...............................................................................
31,661
228
32,256
228
37,506
260
35,641
228
-1,865
-32
(27)
Horse Protection ..............................................................................
2,009
12
3,040
12
4,096
21
3,166
12
-930
-9
(28)
Subtotal, Animal Welfare................................................................
33,670
240
35,296
240
41,602
281
38,807
240
-2,795
-41
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure ...............................
4,251
-
4,251
-
4,251
-
7,451
-
+3,200
-
(29)
Physical/Operational Security .........................................................
5,153
4
5,163
4
5,182
4
5,205
4
+23
-
(30)
Rental and DHS Security Payments ................................................
42,567
-
42,567
-
42,567
-
42,567
-
-
-
(31)
Subtotal, Agency Management .......................................................
51,971
4
51,981
4
52,000
4
55,223
4
3,223
-
Congressionally Direct Spending ....................................................
-
-
3,474
-
9,552
-
-
-
-9,552
-
(32)
Subtotal, Discretionary Appropriated..............................................
1,064,179
4,855
1,110,218
4,922
1,171,071
5,035
1,188,788
4,993
17,717
-42
General Provisions:
General Provision 739 - Citrus Greening ........................................
8,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
General Provision 797 – Cogongrass ..............................................
5,312
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-23
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
Chg
Key
General Provision 775 – Cogongrass ..............................................
-
-
3,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Mandatory Appropriations:
Farm Bill, Section 7721 ..................................................................
75,000
26
75,000
26
75,000
26
75,000
26
-
-
Farm Bill, Section 2408 ..................................................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Farm Bill, Section 12101 ................................................................
-
-
-
-
30,000
2
30,000
2
-
-
Sequester P.L. 113-6 Farm Bill .......................................................
-4,275
-
-4,275
-
-5,985
-
-5,985
-
-
-
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fees:
Total Collections .............................................................................
319,998
1,325
606,658
1,325
778,000
1,325
825,000
1,325
47,000
-
Sequester P.L. 113-6 AQI User Fees ..............................................
-15,387
-
-26,192
-
-44,346
-
-47,025
-
-2,679
-
Sequester Restored AQI User Fees .................................................
33,200
-
15,387
-
26,192
-
44,346
-
+18,154
-
General Provision 799D - AQI User Fees .......................................
635,000
200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
General Provision 785 - AQI User Fees ..........................................
-
-
250,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Trust Funds:
Trust Funds .....................................................................................
8,060
50
12,222
50
9,000
50
9,000
50
-
-
Trust Funds Sequester Restored P.L. 113-6 ....................................
78
-
75
-
75
-
75
-
-
-
Foreign Service National Separation Liability Trust .......................
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal, Trust Funds ......................................................................
1,051,673
1,601
928,875
1,401
867,936
1,403
930,411
1,403
+62,475
-
Supplemental Appropriations:
American Rescue Plan ....................................................................
300,000
335
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
AQI User Fees General Provision 2102 ..........................................
-
-
-
-
125,000
-
-
-
-125,000
-
Subtotal, Supplemental Appropriations ..........................................
300,000
335
-
-
125,000
-
-
-
-125,000
-
Offsetting Collections:
Offsetting Collection .......................................................................
289,985
1,785
252,322
1,785
260,000
1,785
263,000
1,785
+3,000
-
Subtotal, Offsetting Collection ........................................................
289,985
1,785
252,322
1,785
260,000
1,785
263,000
1,785
+3,000
-
Total Adjusted Appropriation .........................................................
2,719,649
8,576
2,294,415
8,108
2,424,007
8,223
2,382,199
8,181
-41,808
-42
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-24
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
Chg
Key
Add back:
Rescission, Transfers In and Out .....................................................
-35,415
300
338,787
154
-639,000
-
-577,500
-
-61,500
-
Sequestration ...................................................................................
-75
-
-75
-
-75
-
-75
-
-
-
Total Appropriation.........................................................................
2,684,159
8,876
2,633,202
8,262
1,785,007
8,223
1,804,699
8,181
-103,308
-42
Transfers In:
Commodity Credit Corporation ......................................................
500,000
300
739,791
154
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total Transfers In ............................................................................
500,000
300
739,791
154
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers Out:
Transfer to DHS ..............................................................................
-533,104
-
-399,509
-
-639,000
-
-577,500
-
+61,500
-
Transfer to Department Working Capital Fund ...............................
-
-
-1,496
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total Transfers Out .........................................................................
-533,104
-
-401,005
-
-639,000
-
-577,500
-
+61,500
-
Rescission .......................................................................................
-2,312
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sequestration ...................................................................................
-75
-
-75
-
-75
-
-75
-
-
-
Recoveries, Other ............................................................................
35,358
-
20,328
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, SOY .................................................................
496,867
924
1,520,397
1,825
1,680,732
1,745
1,037,201
1,519
-643,531
-226
Total Available................................................................................
3,216,383
9,800
4,173,851
10,087
3,465,664
9,968
2,841,825
9,700
-746,840
-268
Lapsing Balances ............................................................................
-7,594
-370
-8,171
-700
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transferred Balances .......................................................................
-
-
-188,728
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, EOY .................................................................
-1,520,397
-1,825
-1,680,732
-1,745
-1,037,201
-1,519
-836,000
-1,366
+201,201
+153
Total Obligations ............................................................................
1,688,392
7,605
2,296,221
7,643
2,428,464
8,449
2,005,825
8,334
-545,639
-115
Note: The details associated with Supplemental appropriations provided to the Office of the Secretary, but implemented in this account, are found in the USDA Budget Summary and are not
reflected above.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-25
Table APHIS-15. Project Statement on Basis of Obligations (thousands of dollars, FTE)
Item
2021 Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE Inc.
or Dec.
Discretionary Obligations:
Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response
Animal Health Technical Services ..............................................
$36,518
115
$40,377
115
$41,138
151
$40,067
151
-$1,071
-
Aquatic Animal Health ...............................................................
2,272
13
2,300
12
5,000
18
6,461
18
+1,461
-
Avian Health ...............................................................................
65,053
236
61,232
229
67,820
238
66,324
238
-1,496
-
Cattle Health ...............................................................................
105,490
490
107,468
442
112,679
493
103,658
493
-9,021
-
Equine, Cervid & Small Ruminant Health ..................................
28,978
112
32,264
115
35,319
116
32,498
116
-2,821
-
National Veterinary Stockpile .....................................................
9,120
6
4,772
6
7,072
6
5,813
6
-1,259
-
Swine Health ...............................................................................
25,015
133
25,283
124
26,044
142
31,624
147
+5,580
+5
Veterinary Biologics ...................................................................
20,566
104
20,881
98
21,479
126
22,217
126
+738
-
Veterinary Diagnostics ................................................................
46,304
133
49,286
137
65,339
196
67,425
196
+2,086
-
Zoonotic Disease Management ...................................................
17,754
59
19,766
60
23,734
62
25,430
70
+1,696
+8
Subtotal, Animal Health ..............................................................
357,070
1,401
363,629
1,338
405,623
1,548
401,517
1,561
-4,106
+13
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated) ....................
32,886
357
33,811
365
35,541
367
37,690
367
+2,149
-
Cotton Pests ................................................................................
13,455
36
14,411
31
16,453
49
15,737
49
-716
-
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests.................................
10,015
67
12,605
48
14,047
77
15,085
77
+1,038
-
Pest Detection .............................................................................
27,726
158
28,112
140
29,075
186
30,164
186
+1,089
-
Plant Protection Methods Development ......................................
20,880
122
21,194
96
22,557
130
22,556
128
-1
-2
Specialty Crop Pests....................................................................
195,019
752
209,638
721
220,667
796
224,037
801
+3,370
+5
Tree & Wood Pests .....................................................................
64,280
259
61,880
237
61,212
292
64,272
292
+3,060
-
Subtotal, Plant Health .................................................................
364,261
1,751
381,651
1,638
399,553
1,897
409,541
1,900
+9,988
+3
Wildlife Damage Management ...................................................
111,096
556
115,582
575
123,043
623
123,397
587
+354
-36
Wildlife Services Methods Development ....................................
21,100
108
23,598
102
26,224
126
25,658
126
-566
-
Subtotal, Wildlife Services ..........................................................
132,196
664
139,180
677
149,267
749
149,055
713
-212
-36
Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement ........................
16,397
100
16,284
101
18,722
120
19,390
120
+668
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-26
Item
2021 Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE Inc.
or Dec.
Biotechnology Regulatory Services ............................................
19,014
90
19,142
90
19,691
93
23,916
110
+4,225
+17
Subtotal, Regulatory Services .....................................................
35,411
190
35,426
191
38,413
213
43,306
230
+4,893
+17
Civilian Climate Corps ................................................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,016
5
+6,016
+5
Emergency Preparedness & Response ........................................
38,804
191
41,825
208
45,942
197
48,454
197
+2,512
-
Subtotal, Emergency Management .............................................
38,804
191
41,825
208
45,942
197
54,470
202
+8,528
+5
Subtotal, Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response.
927,742
4,197
961,711
4,052
1,038,798
4,604
1,057,889
4,606
+19,091
+2
Agriculture Import/Export ..........................................................
15,719
77
17,904
71
19,292
84
17,766
81
-1,526
-3
Overseas Technical & Trade Operations .....................................
24,193
50
24,306
53
25,572
57
28,976
57
+3,404
-
Subtotal, Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance ......
39,912
127
42,210
124
44,864
141
46,742
138
+1,878
-3
Animal Welfare ...........................................................................
31,654
211
31,734
192
37,506
260
35,641
228
-1,865
-32
Horse Protection ..........................................................................
2,009
9
2,988
9
4,096
21
3,166
12
-930
-9
Subtotal, Animal Welfare............................................................
33,663
220
34,722
201
41,602
281
38,807
240
-2,795
-41
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure ...........................
4,224
-
4,112
-
4,099
-
7,451
-
+3,352
-
Physical/Operational Security .....................................................
5,151
3
5,163
2
5,182
4
5,205
4
+23
-
Rental and DHS Security Payments ............................................
42,400
-
42,567
-
42,567
-
42,567
-
-
-
Subtotal, Agency Management ...................................................
51,775
3
51,842
2
51,848
4
55,223
4
+3,375
-
Congressionally Direct Spending ................................................
-
-
3,474
-
9,552
-
-
-
-9,552
-
Subtotal, Discretionary Obligations ............................................
1,053,092
4,547
1,093,959
4,379
1,186,664
5,030
1,198,661
4,988
-11,997
-42
General Provisions:
General Provision – Cogongrass .................................................
3,604
-
2,950
-
1,758
-
-
-
-
-
General Provision - Citrus Greening ...........................................
8,229
-
271
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-27
Item
2021 Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE Inc.
or Dec.
Mandatory Obligations:
Farm Bill, Section 7721 ..............................................................
70,227
21
69,932
11
70,745
26
70,725
26
-20
-
Farm Bill, Section 2408 ..............................................................
7,231
58
9,118
61
11,977
47
-
-
-11,977
-47
Farm Bill, Section 12101 ............................................................
39,014
6
34,204
6
41,700
16
28,511
2
-13,189
-14
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fees ............................
234,240
1,197
222,798
1,150
264,000
1,325
247,500
1,325
-16,500
-
American Rescue Plan Act ..........................................................
-
-
43,297
22
64,000
50
85,000
89
+21,000
+39
Trust Funds .................................................................................
8,032
34
12,701
34
9,500
50
9,000
50
-500
-
Foreign Service National Separation Liability Trust ...................
-
-
2,527
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal, Mandatory Obligations ................................................
358,744
1,316
394,577
1,284
461,923
1,514
440,736
1,492
-21,187
-22
Supplemental Obligations:
USMCA Lacey Act .....................................................................
203
-
426
-
1,371
-
-
-
-1,371
-
Subtotal, Supplemental Obligations ............................................
203
-
426
-
1,371
-
-
-
-1,371
-
Other Obligations:
Commodity Credit Corporation ..................................................
2,436
2
535,565
116
510,723
120
100,000
69
-410,723
-51
Offsetting Collections .................................................................
258,494
1,740
265,523
1,864
266,019
1,785
266,428
1,785
+409
-
Homeland Security, HUB Relo & Department ...........................
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-6
-
H1N1 ...........................................................................................
1,192
-
158
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Refunds for equipment sold ........................................................
2,398
-
2,792
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal, Other Obligations .........................................................
264,520
1,742
804,038
1,980
776,748
1,905
366,428
1,854
-410,320
-51
Total Obligations ........................................................................
1,688,392
7,605
2,296,221
7,643
2,428,464
8,449
2,005,825
8,334
-420,881
-115
Add back:
Lapsing Balances ........................................................................
7,594
370
8,171
700
-
-
-
-
-
-
Balances Available, EOY:
Discretionary
Animal Health Technical Services ..............................................
8,674
46
6,955
46
5,000
46
5,000
46
-
-
Avian Health ...............................................................................
7,091
30
10,890
30
8,000
30
8,000
30
-
-
Cattle Health ...............................................................................
1,441
-
2,408
-
1,500
-
1,500
-
-
-
Equine Cervid & Small Ruminant Health ...................................
500
-
500
-
500
-
500
-
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-28
Item
2021 Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE Inc.
or Dec.
National Veterinary Stockpile .....................................................
1,591
3
2,572
3
2,000
3
2,000
3
-
-
Veterinary Diagnostics ................................................................
26,449
-
38,562
-
37,000
-
33,000
-
-4,000
-
Zoonotic Disease Management ...................................................
6,347
-
7,167
-
5,000
-
4,000
-
-1,000
-
Emergency Preparedness & Response ........................................
16,004
15
16,875
15
15,000
15
11,744
15
-3,256
-
Cotton Pests ................................................................................
608
11
1,503
11
500
11
500
11
-
-
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests.................................
3,138
34
2,061
34
3,000
34
3,340
34
+340
-
Specialty Crop Pests....................................................................
24,436
58
31,550
129
27,000
131
25,000
131
-2,000
-
Tree & Wood Pests .....................................................................
3,541
82
3,651
82
5,000
82
5,000
82
-
-
Civilian Climate Corps ................................................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Wildlife Damage Management ...................................................
3,865
-
4,586
-
3,500
-
3,000
-
-500
-
Wildlife Services Methods Development ....................................
794
-
480
-
500
-
500
-
-
-
Contingency Funds .....................................................................
2,893
20
3,386
25
3,900
30
4,443
35
+543
+5
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure ...........................
209
-
348
-
500
-
500
-
-
-
HUB Relocation ..........................................................................
6
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Commodity Credit Corporation ..................................................
586,286
466
790,699
504
279,977
384
179,977
315
-100,000
-69
General Provision 775 – Cogongrass ..........................................
-
-
1,758
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
General Provision 739 - Citrus Greening ....................................
271
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
General Provision 797 – Cogongrass ..........................................
1,708
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
USMCA Lacey Act .....................................................................
1,797
-
1,371
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
H1N1 Supplemental ....................................................................
158
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Offsetting Collections .................................................................
163,400
179
142,706
100
136,687
100
133,259
100
-3,428
-
Mandatory
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fees ............................
176,910
202
317,147
378
298,993
376
296,314
376
-2,679
-
General Provision 799D - AQI User Fees ...................................
101,896
200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
American Rescue Plan Act ..........................................................
300,000
335
256,714
312
192,714
262
107,714
173
-85,000
-89
Farm Bill Section 10202 .............................................................
20
-
20
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Farm Bill Section 12101 .............................................................
49,787
20
15,631
14
2,221
-
2,000
-
-221
-
Farm Bill Section 2408 ...............................................................
21,013
109
11,977
47
-
-
-
-
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-29
Item
2021 Actual
FTE
2022 Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE Inc.
or Dec.
Trust Funds .................................................................................
9,564
15
9,209
15
8,709
15
8,709
15
-
-
Total Balance Available, EOY ....................................................
1,520,397
1,825
1,680,732
1,745
1,037,201
1,519
836,000
1,366
-201,201
-153
Total Available............................................................................
3,216,383
9,800
3,985,123
10,087
3,465,664
9,968
2,841,825
9,700
-622,081
-268
Less:
Rescission ...................................................................................
2,312
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total Transfers In ........................................................................
-500,000
-300
-739,791
-154
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total Transfers Out .....................................................................
533,104
-
589,732
-
639,000
-
577,500
-
-61,500
-
Sequestration ...............................................................................
75
-
75
-
75
-
75
-
-
-
Recoveries, Other ........................................................................
-35,358
-
-20,328
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, SOY .............................................................
-496,867
-924
-1,520,397
-1,825
-1,680,732
-1,745
-1,037,201
-1,519
+643,531
+226
Total Appropriation.....................................................................
2,719,649
8,576
2,294,415
8,108
2,424,007
8,223
2,382,199
8,181
-40,050
-42
Note: The details associated with Supplemental appropriations provided to the Office of the Secretary, but implemented in this account, are found in the USDA Budget Summary and are not
reflected above.
23-30
JUSTIFICATIONS
A large portion of APHIS’ budget is in support of personnel compensation. The request includes a total of
$28,820,000 to cover increases in pay for associated employees in 2024. These increases will support the
annualization of the 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase in 2023, and the 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase
in 2024.
This critical increase is needed for the Agency to fully meet its mission to safeguard the health, welfare, and value of
American agriculture and natural resources. These rising costs would need to be absorbed by programs absent
additional funding, impacting the level of activities and services provided to our stakeholders and partners. This
would result in an estimated reduction in programmatic work equivalent to 222 FTEs. The budget request would
allow APHIS to support and maintain staffing levels needed to meet the demands and statutory requirements imposed
on APHIS, including the Agency’s emergency response capabilities for pest and disease outbreaks. Without the pay
cost increase APHIS would need to reduce a number of program activities, including reductions in Federal
contributions to support States and other cooperators in combatting animal and plant pests and diseases, and
addressing conflicts with wildlife.
An increase of $24,963,000 and 2 FTEs for Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response
An increase of $947,000 and 13 FTEs for Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response – Animal Health
(1) A
nimal Health Technical Services: An increase of $884,000 ($39,183,000 and 151 FTE available in 2023).
APHIS’ Animal Health Technical Services (AHTS) program develops and enhances tools for acquiring and
managing information vital for improving global market access for U.S. livestock and animal products.
Incorporating national surveillance standards into data management applications allows the program to
compile animal health information nationally, thus leveraging the work of animal health professionals
nationwide to meet local, State, and national veterinary health objectives. The National Veterinary
Accreditation Program (NVAP) trains private veterinarians to help producers meet export requirements and
disease program standards, allowing U.S. animals and animal products to compete in the global economy.
The national animal disease traceability (ADT) framework allows Federal, State, local, Tribal, and private
animal health professionals to work together to identify diseased animals, quickly trace their movements, and
control disease spread to protect the livestock industry, whose production value was approximately $123
billion in 2021 (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services). The framework enables animal health
officials to trace an animal from the location of official identification to their last location, which is often the
termination point or slaughter plant. Knowledge of the location of diseased and at-risk animals helps preserve
animal health; enables a rapid response in case of an animal disease event; reduces animal illnesses and deaths
during outbreaks; and decreases costs for producers, consumers, and the government. This system also assures
our trading partners that States, and USDA can rapidly contain an animal disease event. Each year, APHIS
provides cooperative agreement funds to States to help them establish and maintain support for State ADT
activities. Currently all States receiving program funds have approved ADT strategic plans in place with
APHIS. The ADT program continues to progress in maximizing flexibility while maintaining effectiveness
and increasing the timeliness of retrieving traceability data.
In 2022, APHIS purchased official RFID tags to be provided to States as an optional alternative for the
currently available metal tags. The tags are provided at no cost to States, and each State veterinarian
distributes the tags in a way that best serves their industry. The tags are available as orange RFID official
vaccination tags for use in heifers vaccinated for brucellosis, or white RFID tags for non-vaccinated heifers.
Since RFID tag distribution began in 2020 through 2022, approximately 16 million tags have been distributed
as free tag alternatives to visual metal ID tags. This accounts for about half of all USDA approved official
identification tags distributed by USDA for cattle in that time.
The AHTS program evaluates data systems and applications to determine if they should enhance them or
develop new systems and applications. APHIS makes these systems available to States and Tribal Nations to
support their traceability plans and other animal health activities. In 2022, APHIS continued modernization
efforts for the Animal Disease Traceability Information System (ADTIS). The ADTIS is an information
management system that APHIS utilizes to maintain records of official identification devices and other
information associated with official identification numbers of animals. The system contains several modules
that maintain information to support APHIS' ability to respond to animal health events. The modernization
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-31
efforts focused on maintaining the components, features, and services of ADTIS into a central location
without the need to use separate applications. Users of ADTIS were granted access to the modernized system
at the beginning of 2022. APHIS also initiated modernization of the Animal Identification Management
System (AIMS) in 2022. AIMS is used to administer official animal identification numbers and devices and
other events associated with an official identification number. This modernization effort will be completed in
2023.
More than 71,000 highly trained, accredited veterinarians act as the first line of defense for reportable
domestic and foreign animal diseases. The voluntary NVAP authorizes private veterinary practitioners to work
cooperatively with Federal veterinarians and State animal health officials to report when they suspect these
diseases to be present. This provides the first step in rapid diagnosis, quarantine, and other control measures to
safeguard our nation’s animal and human health. Accredited veterinarians also provide official animal, flock,
and herd health certifications, disease testing, and traceability practices for billions of animals each year.
Mandatory training and accreditation renewal provides increased knowledge of animal disease surveillance,
prevention, zoonoses, judicious antimicrobial use, animal welfare, and disaster preparedness. APHIS currently
hosts 37 web-based supplemental training modules for accredited veterinarians. Since 2011, accredited
veterinarians have completed more than 1 million hours of online training modules, and more than 40,000
modules completed at veterinary conferences nationwide.
Overall, base funding for the AHTS program currently supports salaries and benefits of personnel, contracts
and agreements, and other normal operating costs such as travel, supplies, rent, and utilities necessary to
conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $884,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(2) Aquatic Animal Health: An increase of $1,461,000 ($5,000,000 and 18 FTE available in 2023).
The Aquatic Animal Health program protects the health and value of U.S. farm-raised aquatic animals and
natural resources. The program supports commercial producers in domestic and international trade markets,
valued at $1.5 billion in 2018 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2018 Census of Aquaculture). The
National Aquaculture Health Plan & Standards (NAHPS), which replaced the National Aquatic Animal Health
Plan in 2021, provides a framework for Federal policies and programs to address aquatic animal diseases for
the benefit of aquaculture and aquatic animal resources. The NAHPS affirms USDA as the lead Federal
authority for U.S. aquaculture health, which is consistent with other livestock health programs. As such, the
Department will oversee the health and promotion of aquatic livestock to meet the growth of, and demand for,
the domestic aquaculture industry. The NAHPS outlines the infrastructure measures needed to protect the
health of farmed aquatic animals, which include disease reporting, standardized laboratory quality assurance
and testing of high-consequence aquatic animal diseases, surveillance, data management, and health
certification programs. These elements are fundamental for a robust, comprehensive system. The NAHPS
program promotes industry growth by improving marketability through consumer confidence, as well as
facilitating the interstate and international trade and movement of live aquatic animals and animal products.
The Aquatic Animal Health program is pursuing objectives consistent with the NAHPS, which includes a
more comprehensive approach to aquatic livestock health management, monitoring, and certification to meet
the growth and demand of the domestic aquaculture industry. The program is focused on farm-raised aquatic
animal health and promotes industry growth by improving marketability through consumer confidence, as
well as facilitating the interstate and international trade and movement of live animals and animal products.
APHIS and the National Aquaculture Association are working to develop the Commercial Aquaculture Health
Program Standards (CAHPS), a voluntary national and uniform approach to aquaculture health standards. The
goal of CAHPS is to support improved health management, protect and expand aquaculture business
opportunities, promote and facilitate trade, and improve resource protection. CAHPS establishes site-specific
plans for biosecurity, surveillance, and response related to animal health events. Well-managed surveillance
planning is the foundation for animal health activities that include disease control and eradication programs,
support of emergency preparedness and response, and international trade.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-32
APHIS received funding in the 2023 appropriation to support the implementation of NAHPS and CAHPS.
With these funds, APHIS will launch a CAHPS pilot project with up to 10 aquaculture production
facilities/networks, while simultaneously pursuing rulemaking to establish CAHPS as an official USDA
aquatic animal health certification program that supports health and protects/expands domestic and
international markets. APHIS will release and support a field data collection tool for the pilot, develop and
implement aquaculture risk assessments, and launch a national NAHPS and CAHPS outreach campaign. The
Agency will fund up to 10 projects (at either APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories or at a partner
laboratory) focused on expanding diagnostic testing options, developing efficient surveillance sampling
approaches, and investigating diseases of concern to the aquaculture industry. The Agency will provide initial
NAHPS and CAHPS rollout and education information to internal and external stakeholders through webinars
and stakeholder meetings. Finally, APHIS plans to fund several projects through cooperative agreements to
clarify aquatic disease statuses, surveillance practices, and/or sector practices of the U.S. aquaculture industry.
Overall, base funding for the Aquatic Animal Health program currently supports salaries and benefits, and
other program operating costs such as travel, supplies, rent, and utilities necessary to conduct program
activities.
a) An increase of $1,385,000 to provide additional support for the implementation of the NAHPS and
CAHPS.
APHIS is requesting additional funds to continue building on efforts initiated in 2023. Specifically, the
Agency will use the funds to support an additional 10 CAHPS pilot project participants; fund 1-3
additional aquatic animal entry pathways and/or domestic risk analyses to clarify the status of domestic
aquaculture and help determine viability of appropriate import restrictions; and fund 5-10 additional
projects evaluating and developing aquatic animal diagnostic assays and protocols to support international
and domestic animal movement and farmed aquaculture health. Finally, APHIS plans to develop a data
management pipeline for CAHPS data monitoring and reporting.
b) An increase of $76,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(3) Avian Health program: An increase of $1,394,000 ($64,930,000 and 238 FTE available in 2023).
The Avian Health program protects the U.S. poultry industry, whose production value was $46.1 billion in 2021
(USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service), while facilitating agricultural trade in poultry and poultry
products. This program consists of the surveillance, prevention, and control of avian diseases; disease threat
planning and response; and international avian health activities. APHIS’ surveillance programs detect foreign,
zoonotic, and domestic diseases that could substantially impact domestic production and the economy.
Surveillance information facilitates trade and protects public health by demonstrating that certain diseases do not
exist in poultry populations. Prevention and control programs minimize disease threats and protect the value of
poultry markets. The Agency also maintains regulations and national program standards and guidelines that
direct avian health activities at the Federal, State, and Tribal levels. Maintaining these standards supports
interstate and international commerce by providing assurances about the health of avian species and products that
are moved or traded. In addition, APHIS uses epidemiological and economic modeling to better understand
historical events and inform policy decisions.
APHIS works to quickly detect and address endemic, emerging, and foreign disease threats to ensure that the
U.S. poultry industry maintains worldwide competitiveness. To detect these threats, the Agency conducts
surveillance in domestic poultry, the live bird marketing systems (LBMS), and wild birds. The LBMS is a
voluntary network of U.S. live poultry markets and their production and distribution systems, which provides
fresh poultry meat to consumers. Approximately 33 States have live bird markets that participate in the APHIS’
H5/H7 avian influenza (AI) prevention and control program. State cooperators help conduct surveillance and
diagnostic activities for the LBMS. When these tests yield presumptive positive results, the Agency confirms the
presence and strain of AI. LBMS testing prevents and controls the disease in markets and among producers and
distributors that supply those markets. In 2022, there was one H5N3 LPAI detection in the LBMS from more
than 100,000 AI surveillance tests.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-33
The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a cooperative Federal-State-industry program that helps
participants guard against disease incursion and enhance the marketability of their poultry and poultry products.
This program includes the testing and monitoring of Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella
Gallinarum, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Mycoplasma meleagridis, and H5/H7 strains of
AI. The NPIP H5/H7 prevention and control program involves all 50 States and Puerto Rico; more than 95
percent of commercial broiler, turkey, and egg industries; and the entire primary poultry breeding industry.
Approximately 100 authorized and approved laboratories in 42 States provide diagnostic testing for the program.
Surveillance, diagnostic, and biosecurity activities are funded through cooperative agreements with requesting
States.
APHIS manages the NPIP U.S. Poultry Primary Breeder AI Compartmentalization program, which audits and
certifies pedigree poultry stock breeding companies that practice high-level biosecurity measures to keep their
flocks AI-free. Compartmentalization defines the health status of a subpopulation of animals by common
biosecurity and management principles rather than a shared geographic boundary. The voluntary program
supports the trade of poultry and poultry products if the United States encounters an AI outbreak. Participating
breeders must meet extensive biosecurity, personnel training, disease monitoring, and laboratory infrastructure
requirements. APHIS administers the program and serves as the regulatory authority that international trading
partners can trust to verify that a participant meets the requirements.
APHIS conducts AI surveillance in commercial poultry under the National H5/H7 AI Prevention and Control
program. Although most of the testing is performed locally, the Agency’s National Veterinary Services
Laboratories provides reagents for testing, and performs confirmation and identification testing of presumptive
positive specimens. Each year, APHIS performs approximately 1 million AI surveillance tests through NPIP AI
cooperative agreements. Based on tests results available as of September 30, 2022, the H5/H7 AI virus was
found in 230 U.S. commercial poultry flocks in 2022 as a result of U.S. AI surveillance testing.
AI circulates in waterfowl and shorebirds causing little to no disease, which allows the viruses to move
efficiently along migratory flyways in these birds. Occasionally, these viruses infect domestic land-based poultry
such as chickens and turkeys. When poultry are infected with the H5 or H7 strains of AI virus,
the virus can evolve into the more serious disease-causing form, highly pathogenic AI (HPAI). HPAI usually
causes significant disease and mortality in domestic poultry and sometimes in wild birds. APHIS conducts wild
bird surveillance to gain insight into AI viruses in wild populations, and to provide that data to poultry producers
and others so they can make informed biosecurity and management decisions. In 2022, the Agency coordinated
the collection and laboratory analysis of approximately 20,000 wild bird samples from wild waterfowl in priority
watersheds in all four flyways.
Internationally, APHIS facilitates agricultural trade, works with agricultural officials, monitors agricultural
health, and supports sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting efforts. The Agency works with animal health
counterparts to reduce the impact of AI in trade by promoting transparent communications; clarifying animal
disease status; and - when markets close - providing relevant data to reopen them and minimizing trade
disruption of these products. In addition, APHIS works with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and the
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to maintain a coordinated, strategic approach to resolving avian health
issues that affect U.S. exports. Further, APHIS coordinates with the World Organisation for Animal Health and
other international organizations to assist with disease prevention, management, and eradication activities in
HPAI-affected regions. In addition, APHIS sponsors and staffs the Emergency Management Center at the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. This Center provides assessments, guidance,
and resources to enable rapid response to animal disease outbreaks in countries where the United States would
have difficulties placing personnel or responding bilaterally. This approach reduces the threat of disease
outbreaks becoming widespread and evolving into pandemics. The Agency works closely with counterparts in
Canada and Mexico to address avian disease threats affecting North America. APHIS also delivers capacity-
building activities focused on biosecurity, poultry disease diagnostics, quality assurance in the laboratory, and
poultry and wildlife surveillance.
Overall, base funding currently for the Avian Health program supports salaries and benefits, cooperative
agreements and programmatic contracts, and other normal operating costs such as travel, supplies, rent, and
utilities to conduct program activities.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-34
a) An increase of $1,394,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the 2024
5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(4) Cattle Health program: A decrease of $8,113,000 ($111,771,000 and 493 FTE available in 2023).
The Cattle Health program protects and improves the quality, productivity, and economic viability of the U.S.
cattle and dairy industries, valued at $94 billion (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2021). The Cattle
Health program has two major goals: to rapidly detect and respond to diseases that could significantly affect the
U.S. cattle and bison population and prevent the spread of any newly detected disease in the United States as
well as endemic domestic cattle and bison diseases of concern. The Cattle Health program conducts activities
related to surveillance and monitoring, disease prevention, disease investigation, and outbreak response actions.
In addition, the program maintains regulations, national program standards, and guidelines that direct cattle
health activities at Federal, State, Tribal, and local levels. Establishing and maintaining these standards is critical
to supporting interstate and international commerce by providing assurances about the health of cattle or bison
being moved or traded.
In 2022, APHIS continued to conduct surveillance for foreign, emerging, and endemic diseases, including bovine
tuberculosis (TB), brucellosis, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) as well as disease vectors, such as
the cattle fever tick (CFT), and new world screwworm (NWS). The Agency conducts surveillance through cattle
testing at slaughter facilities, livestock markets, shows, sales, buying stations (first-point testing), on-farm, and
rendering facilities (operations that collect dead, dying, disabled, and diseased animals). APHIS also works with
Canada and Mexico to exclude foot-and-mouth disease, new world screwworm, and other cattle diseases.
APHIS surveillance activities for Bovine TB includes testing live cattle and using slaughter surveillance data
from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Since the bovine TB program began in 1917, it has
significantly decreased the prevalence of the disease in U.S. livestock. Today, the prevalence rate in cattle herds
is less than 0.001 percent. APHIS addresses affected herds with a mix of depopulation and test-and-removal
strategies that consider herd size, potential indemnity costs, State and owner preferences, genetics, and the
probability of removing infection. In 2021, approximately 136 Federally inspected slaughter establishments
submitted 5,602 samples to APHIS for TB testing.
Bovine brucellosis is an infectious disease that can negatively impact the livelihood of cattle producers and the
supply of meat and dairy products. Federal and State eradication efforts have resulted in all 50 States, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands being Class-Free since July 2009. APHIS works with
States to implement brucellosis management plans to mitigate the risks imposed by brucellosis found in wildlife
populations. Although the United States is Class-Free of brucellosis, the disease remains in free-ranging bison
and wild elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area. To help manage brucellosis in this area, APHIS provides expertise
to land and wildlife management agencies in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Under the market cattle
identification national slaughter surveillance program, APHIS partners with States to tests cattle and domestic
bison on farms and ranches before movement, sale, and herd certification issuance for show and exhibition
purposes.
BSE is a progressive, fatal neurologic cattle disease which is primarily spread through contaminated feed. The
World Organisation for Animal Health evaluates countries that submit disease freedom requests and established
official recognition of sanitary risk status through a transparent, science-based and impartial procedure. This
system uses points to ensure the BSE surveillance programs obtain quality samples from targeted populations
rather than the entire adult cattle population. The system also incorporates a country’s BSE history, cattle feed
regulations, and surveillance practices. APHIS samples approximately 25,000 animals each year and targets
cattle populations where the disease is most likely to be found. The targeted population for ongoing surveillance
focuses on cattle exhibiting signs of central nervous disorders or any other signs that may be associated with
BSE, including cattle that cannot walk, are low weight, injured, or dead. No cases of BSE were detected in 2022.
APHIS partners with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to carry out the Federal-State CFT
Eradication Program. CFT spreads the disease babesiosis, also known as cattle fever. The Agency controls the
spread of tick species that transmit the infectious agent by inspecting livestock before they leave quarantined
areas, conducting surveillance at local markets, inspecting hunter-killed white-tailed deer and other exotic
ungulates, and conducting horseback river trail patrols to capture stray and smuggled Mexican livestock who
may carry ticks into the United States. APHIS, with cooperation from the TAHC, maintains a permanent
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quarantine zone between Texas and Mexico to prevent CFT from spreading into the United States. Bordering
Mexican states harbor tick species, which carry the disease, and tick-infested wildlife or livestock near the border
can bring the ticks into the United States. Tick eradication activities consist of identifying and quarantining
infested premises and treating livestock and wildlife. Approved treatment methods include dipping or spraying
cattle with coumaphos, feeding ivermectin-treated corn to deer found in wildlife; and injecting cattle with
Doramectin. To release a quarantine area, every infested premise must have all cattle treated for nine months,
including inspections and treatments every two weeks.
APHIS began efforts along the border to control Carrizo Cane in 2020. Carrizo Cane is an invasive species grass
that grows along the Rio Grande River in Texas. The cane makes for a particularly favorable habitat for CFT
which reside in the vegetation waiting for animals to brush by so they can attach. In 2022, APHIS worked with
contractors to aid in the eradication of the invasive cane and increase river visibility by successfully topping
approximately 115 miles of land area, primarily alongside river trails used by CFT inspectors.
APHIS and cooperators have eradicated screwworm from the United States, Mexico, Belize, portions of the
Caribbean, and down through Central America to the southern-most portion of Panama. APHIS prevents the
reestablishment of screwworm in the United States by collaborating with Panama and Colombia to maintain a
biological barrier zone in the Darien Gap, along the Colombia/Panama border. The program relies on a sterile
insect technique, a process where APHIS and cooperators produce and sterilize insects at a jointly managed
facility in Panama and release them in the barrier zone to mate with wild insects, thereby preventing
reproduction. The United States also has access to the sterile flies in the event of an outbreak in U.S. territory.
APHIS produces approximately 20 million sterile flies per week at its Panama rearing facility.
Overall, base funding for the Cattle Health Program currently supports salaries and benefits, cooperative and
programmatic contracts, and other normal operating costs such as travel, supplies, rent, and utilities to conduct
program activities.
a) A decrease of $11,000,000 to eliminate management of Carrizo cane from the banks of the Rio Grande
River and reducing Cattle Fever Tick (CFT) activities.
APHIS is proposing a total decrease of $11 million to eliminate Carrizo cane management and reduce cattle
fever tick program activities in 2024. Of the requested decrease, $5 million is for mechanical control
activities that reduce non-native Carrizo cane from the banks of the Rio Grande River. Carrizo cane is a tall,
perennial grass that provides a favorable habitat to harbor CFT. The standard approach for keeping Carrizo
cane under control is to cut it down to three feet twice a year using a mechanical cutter bar mounted on a
tractor, a process referred to as “topping”. The elimination of Federal funding for this activity will lead to
the continued growth of the cane along the riverbank and could potentially lead to more wildlife spreading
CFT to areas in the permanent quarantine zone if the State cooperators do not continue the activity.
The remaining $6 million decrease will partially reduce Federal contributions for maintaining game fencing
on private lands designed to prevent wildlife from spreading cattle fever tick. High game fencing serves as a
deterrent to the unrestricted movement of wildlife that carry CFT from one premise to another. Additionally,
high game fencing assists with quarantine efforts, reduces the need for chemical treatment of tick-infested
animals, and decreases animal production costs. APHIS will use the remaining funding to continue work
with State cooperators and landowners to maintain sections of existing fencing; however, cooperators will be
responsible for the construction costs of any new fencing. At the proposed funding level, APHIS will focus
on effective CFT mitigation activities that reduce spread from within the permanent quarantine zone. These
activities include employing mounted patrol inspectors to survey and apprehend stray and unauthorized
animals crossing the southern border; increasing the number of individual animal inspections; treating cattle
with coumaphos to reduce CFT from livestock populations; and treating wildlife with an anti-parasitic drug
to reduce CFT spread from infested premises.
b) An increase of $2,887,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
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(5) Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant Health program: A decrease of $2,821,000 ($35,319,000 and 116 FTE
available in 2023).
The Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health (ECSRH) program protects the health and improves the quality,
productivity, and economic viability of the equine, cervid, sheep, and goat industries. APHIS activities include
monitoring, surveillance, investigation, response, and disease prevention and preparedness to address animal
health issues. The Agency’s monitoring and surveillance activities detect foreign, emerging, zoonotic, and
domestic diseases that could substantially impact the economy. APHIS also works with domestic and
international trading partners to facilitate safe trade in equine, cervids, and small ruminants and their products,
and ensure that diseases of trade concern are reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health when
detected. This program conducts disease surveillance and monitoring activities for the following diseases: bovine
tuberculosis (TB), chronic wasting disease (CWD), vesicular stomatitis virus, contagious equine metritis, equine
infectious anemia, equine piroplasmosis, Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and scrapie.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program focuses on improving the health of domestic sheep and goats,
reducing scrapie-associated economic losses, and increasing international marketing opportunities. Scrapie is a
fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Regulatory scrapie
slaughter surveillance efforts, which began in 2003, were designed to identify scrapie-infected flocks and herds
by sampling animals at slaughter. Since the surveillance program began, the program has collected 718,000
samples at slaughter.
APHIS’ voluntary national CWD Herd Certification Plan (HCP) helps States, Tribes, and the cervid industry
control CWD in farmed cervids by allowing the interstate movement only from certified herds. Currently, 28
States participate in the national CWD HCP. APHIS determines the use of Federal indemnity payments within
the CWD program on a case-by-case basis. APHIS also coordinates a voluntary cervid TB herd accreditation
program.
In 2022, APHIS made cooperative agreement funding available to further develop and implement CWD
surveillance, testing, management, and response activities, including the further development and evaluation of
techniques and strategies to prevent or control CWD in farmed and wild cervid populations. APHIS funded 27
State Departments of Wildlife and Agriculture, 5 Tribes, 1 Tribal Organizations, and 1 State university to
conduct wild cervid surveillance on Tribal Lands.
APHIS collaborates with Federal, State, and industry partners to protect the equine industry from disease,
improve the health of our domestic herd, and protect human health. These activities improve trade and facilitate
equine movement, which are vital to maintaining the industry’s economic value. APHIS also provides veterinary
support and consultation to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and
Burro Program through an interagency cooperative agreement. APHIS coordinates with States and industry to
develop national disease control strategies, and provide oversight, coordination, and implementation of
appropriate policies to mitigate the risks posed by equine diseases of concern. APHIS provides expertise and
helps develop the equine industry’s National Equine Health Plan. This plan functions as a roadmap for owners,
veterinarians, and industry organizations to coordinate with State and Federal animal health officials to
recognize, prevent, control, and respond to equine diseases.
Overall, base funding for the ECSRH program currently supports salaries and benefits, contracts and agreements,
equipment, and other normal operating costs such as supplies, rent, and travel to conduct program activities.
a) A decrease of $3,500,000 for chronic wasting disease.
APHIS and the U.S. Department of the Interior meet annually with representatives from State agriculture
and wildlife agencies, Tribal Nations, conservation and hunting groups, and the cervid industry to identify
and discuss stakeholder CWD management needs and information gaps that need to be addressed to
effectively control CWD. APHIS offers cooperative agreement funding for proposals in support of the
priorities established largely based on these discussions. The budget proposes a decrease of $3,500,000 in
available cooperative agreement funding for CWD proposals. APHIS will continue to evaluate proposals
that align with the established priorities with a focus on new CWD proposals submitted in 2024, at this
lower funding level.
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b) An increase of $679,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the 2024
5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(6) National Veterinary Stockpile: A decrease of $687,000 ($6,500,000 and 6 FTE available in 2023).
The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS), overseen by APHIS’ Field Operations Logistics Center, serves as the
primary source of materials, supplies, and equipment for the response to, control of, and containment of
significant animal disease outbreaks. The NVS has two primary objectives: to deploy countermeasures, within 24
hours of approval, against the most damaging animal diseases including highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot-
and-mouth disease (FMD), virulent Newcastle disease, African swine fever, and classical swine fever; and, to
assist States, Tribes, and Territories with planning, training, and exercises for the rapid request, receipt,
processing, and distribution of NVS countermeasures during an event.
NVS continuously evaluates its inventory of supplies and replaces expired inventory. To maximize cost-
efficiency and response capabilities, NVS personnel work with industry modelers and academic institutions to
develop a scientifically estimated quantity of supplies to stockpile for each disease on APHIS’ high-consequence
diseases list. These personnel gather input from Federal agencies on strategies such as commercially available
countermeasures including vaccines, criteria for deploying countermeasures, and ways to leverage stockpiles.
The program continues to maintain its capabilities to address high consequence animal diseases, manage
inventories, and develop ways to best address the Agency’s response capabilities by quickly deploying animal
health response resources. The NVS also acquires equipment to assist in animal disposal and makes necessary
upgrades to existing equipment for animal depopulation efforts during an event.
APHIS uses a portion of the NVS funding to maintain the North American FMD Vaccine Bank (NAFMDVB) as
part of the animal health readiness initiative. The NAFMDVB is a vaccine stockpile that APHIS and Canada
support cooperatively. Each country contributes funding to acquire vaccine and maintain a vaccine concentrate
stockpile, from which FMD vaccine is derived. The United States and Canada will continue to ensure that the
Bank maintains adequate stocks of vaccine concentrate and conducts necessary quality assurance testing.
Without NVS’ efforts, disease outbreak response efforts would quickly deplete State resources and overwhelm
industry, leading to larger and more serious animal disease outbreaks.
Overall, base funding for the NVS program currently supports salaries and benefits, supplies, and contracts and
agreements, as well as other normal operating costs like rent, travel, and equipment to conduct program
activities.
a) A decrease of $722,000 for the National Veterinary Stockpile.
APHIS is proposing a reduction of $722,000 to the National Veterinary Stockpile. Congress provided
additional funds in recent years that allowed the Agency to update existing countermeasures, including
updates to the North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank. Additionally, funding supplied by
the 2018 Farm Bill is available to support the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures
Bank. At the proposed funding level, APHIS will maximize resources available to continue focusing on
maintaining stockpiles of the highest priority countermeasures.
b) An increase of $35,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(7) Swine Health program: An increase of $5,580,000 and 5 FTE ($26,044,000 and 142 FTE available in 2023).
APHIS’ Swine Health program protects the health and improves the quality, productivity, and economic viability
of the swine industry. The 2021 production value of the swine industry was approximately $29 billion (USDA,
National Agricultural Statistics Service). In addition, the program facilitates trade in swine and pork products,
and addresses swine health issues at the human-swine interface and between wildlife and domestic swine. APHIS
activities include comprehensive and integrated swine surveillance, emergency preparedness and response
planning, disease investigation and control activities, zoonotic disease prevention and response, swine health
studies and special projects, collaborations on emerging issues, and communication with stakeholders. In
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addition, the Agency maintains regulatory and programmatic guidelines that direct activities at the Federal, State,
and Tribal levels. Establishing and maintaining national standards support interstate and international commerce
by ensuring the health of animals and products being moved or traded.
APHIS collects swine samples from various surveillance streams as part of a comprehensive integrated
surveillance approach to detect swine diseases that could substantially affect domestic producers and the national
economy. Comprehensive integrated surveillance includes field work and epidemiological investigations,
designated surveillance streams, a veterinary diagnostic laboratory infrastructure, data management systems, and
methodologies for data analysis and reporting. APHIS collects samples and data from veterinary diagnostic
laboratories, slaughter plants, high-risk producer premises, livestock markets, and feral swine during population
elimination projects. Surveillance testing supports the swine industry by assuring trading partners and other
stakeholders of the status of swine diseases. Comprehensive surveillance enables APHIS to maintain effective
surveillance using a risk-based approach that targets high-risk samples and reduces costs.
For several years, APHIS has closely followed African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly viral
disease of domestic and wild pigs, as it spread across Asia and Europe. Currently, the only effective control
strategy is to depopulate all affected or exposed swine herds. Early detection is the key to controlling, containing,
and eliminating ASF. While ASF has never been found in the United States and does not threaten public health,
an introduction would devastate U.S. pork producers, their communities, and the economy. APHIS has instituted
a series of interlocking safeguards to prevent ASF from entering the United States and is working with States and
industry to develop and refine plans in case of an outbreak. If ASF enters the U.S swine population, enhanced
surveillance and diagnostic testing strategies will be critical to facilitate progressive response and eradication. In
2022, APHIS successfully evaluated ASF diagnosis using aggregate oral fluid samples through experimental
studies at the Agency’s Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL). Oral fluid collection for
active surveillance is a non-invasive alternative that is less resource and time-intensive than individual animal
sampling. The results from the evaluation suggest that oral fluid samples may be used to supplement the use of
traditional samples for rapid detection of ASF virus.
Since 2021, APHIS has sponsored and supported a pilot project with Iowa State University entitled
“Development and Demonstration of a U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan” (SHIP) modelled after the
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)”. Its objective is to develop a certification program for high-
consequence swine diseases. The pilot provides a framework to further safeguard the swine industry by ensuring
active and effective nationwide surveillance and the ability to quickly regionalize and quarantine infected areas.
The framework enables APHIS to assure trading partners and consumers about the status of these diseases and
the health of unaffected areas. U.S. pork producers and packing facilities in participating States that meet
specified requirements can voluntarily enroll in the program. In 2022, APHIS oversaw the second phase
implementation of the project which included: increasing membership in the pilot’s House of Delegates (a forum
of industry stakeholders); standing up Official State Agencies and beginning enrollment of swine premises;
continuing technical working groups drafting program standards and resolutions in areas such as sampling and
diagnostics, traceability, and biosecurity; and hosting the second annual House of Delegates meeting in
September 2022. The pilot project team has developed a system of enrolled farm sites and packing facilities that
meet well-defined biosecurity standards. The team also developed traceability testing requirements for
participating States.
APHIS tests for pseudorabies virus (PRV) and swine brucellosis (SBR). Testing continues to confirm that all
commercial swine herds are free from PRV and SBR, although these diseases continue to be found in non-
commercial herds after exposure to feral swine. In all test-positive cases, APHIS and States investigate and
quarantine infected herds, conduct outbreak testing to determine herd disease levels, and depopulate or remove
infected animals through a test-and-removal strategy to eliminate disease risk from these herds. These efforts
protect commercial herds that may be exposed to infected backyard herds.
APHIS also performs foreign animal disease (FAD) investigations in swine. Approximately 90 percent of these
investigations in recent years have been for vesicular diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Investigations for swine hemorrhagic FADs continue to increase significantly, particularly in Puerto Rico, due to
the ASF outbreak in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Agency also conducts an ASF/CSF combined
hemorrhagic fever surveillance program. CSF remains eradicated from the United States.
Swine can harbor several zoonotic disease agents, such as swine influenza (IAV-S), and SBR. In such cases,
State public health and animal health officials conduct investigations and request support from APHIS and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when warranted. Joint animal health and public health
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investigations support the One Health concept and strengthen APHIS’ ability to respond when both animal and
human health might be compromised.
APHIS has the responsibility under the Swine Health Protection Act (SHPA) to license and inspect swine
production facilities that feed cooked garbage to swine, and to conduct searches for unlicensed facilities that may
illegally feed raw garbage to swine. In addition, the SHPA authorizes States to have primary enforcement
responsibility, which provides authority to regulate the feeding of garbage to swine. APHIS may assume the
responsibility in the State. Feeding untreated or improperly treated garbage could transmit infectious diseases
such as ASF, FMD, or CSF to swine. By ensuring that food waste fed to swine does not threaten domestic swine,
APHIS protects the commerce, health, and welfare of U.S. citizens.
The program has the expertise and infrastructure to work with the swine industry, universities, and Federal and
State partners to collect, analyze, and disseminate vital swine health information to those who might take action.
The program continues to develop and maintain swine surveillance protocols to assure the availability of safe and
plentiful swine and swine products.
Overall, base funding for the Swine Health program currently supports salaries and benefits, contracts, and
agreements, as well as other normal operating costs such as travel, supplies, and rent, and utilities.
a) An increase of $4,750,000 and 5 FTE to establish the official Swine Health Improvement Plan program.
APHIS requests funding to begin establishing a Swine Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) program. The SHIP
will be a collaborative effort involving State and Federal partners and provide standards for certifying the
health status of swine across participating farm sites, supply chains, States, and regions. The program will be
modelled after the Agency’s National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), a collaborative effort involving
industry, State, and Federal partners providing standards for certifying the health status of greater than 99
percent of commercial scale poultry and egg operations across the United States. A 2018 case study funded
by the Swine Health Information Center indicated that this approach could yield similar benefits for the
swine industry as the poultry industry has garnered from NPIP. These benefits include the potential to
reduce trade impacting disease-related market risks, establish an officially recognized program for
monitoring for foreign diseases that can support and sustain interstate and export commerce in an outbreak,
facilitate larger-scale efforts to mitigate the impact of recurring endemic diseases of high consequence, and
garner feedback in an officially recognized forum to inform Federal and State programs, planning, and
activities. This program will support the health assurance needs of the U.S. pork industry.
APHIS’ establishment of the SHIP program will follow an Agency-sponsored pilot project to develop a
certification program for high-consequence swine diseases. The pilot provides a framework to further
safeguard the swine industry by ensuring active and effective nationwide surveillance and the ability to
quickly regionalize and quarantine infected areas. It enables the Agency to assure trading partners and
consumers about the status of these diseases and the health of unaffected areas. U.S. pork producers and
packing facilities in participating States that meet specified requirements can voluntarily enroll in the
program. The pilot project team developed a system of enrolled farm sites and packing facilities that meet
well-defined biosecurity standards. The team also developed traceability testing requirements for
participating States. The operations established through the pilot will serve as the foundation for a
sustainable SHIP program. With the additional funding, APHIS will participate in SHIP technical advisory
committees, and provide guidance and resources to transition to an officially-recognized USDA Swine
Health Program to safeguard, certify, and improve the health of U.S. swine and the long-term
competitiveness of the U.S. pork industry.
b) An increase of $830,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
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(8) Veterinary Biologics program: An increase of $738,000 ($21,479,000 and 126 FTE available in 2023).
APHIS’ Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) regulates veterinary biological products under the Virus-Serum-
Toxin Act to ensure that these products are pure, safe, potent, and effective. Organizations develop these
products, which include vaccines, bacterins, antisera, diagnostic test kits, and analogous products to prevent,
diagnose, and treat animal diseases in a wide variety of animal species. The CVB develops regulations
concerning the production and licensing of veterinary biologics, evaluates pre-licensing dossiers and issuance of
licenses and permits, tests products submitted for licensure, inspects facilities and products, approves product
certifications, investigates non-compliance, and conducts post-marketing surveillance to ensure that
manufacturers comply with regulations and policies. This comprehensive regulatory approach is the most
effective way to ensure that only quality, federally licensed, veterinary biological products are available to U.S.
consumers, available for U.S. export markets, and play an essential role in protecting animal health and
agriculture.
APHIS licenses and inspects facilities to ensure that all veterinary biological products produced and distributed
within, imported into, or exported from, the United States are of the highest quality, and are not worthless,
contaminated, dangerous, or harmful. Before the Agency began regulating these products, farmers and animal
health officials found products to be ineffective or contaminated with harmful diseases, including foreign animal
diseases (FAD). While most of the time required in the licensing process is in the control of the potential licensee
in developing manufacturing processes and conducting required studies, the CVB analyzes data and conducts
confirmatory testing before issuing licenses. To reduce the burden on the regulated industry, CVB has expedited
turnaround times, streamlined required information collection under specific circumstances, and implemented
electronic submissions for most required regulatory submissions.
All countries require import and export certificates to certify that products are prepared in accordance with the
Virus-Serum-Toxin Act. In 2022, APHIS reviewed/processed all export certificates within 4 days (the 2022
average was 1.5 days), and all certificates of licensing and inspection within 28 days (the 2022 average was 17
days). Timely processing helps ensure that markets are accessible for manufacturers who export their product.
APHIS also helped ensure that there were no FAD events related to the importation of more than 428 million
doses of biologic products, a 3 percent decrease in the number of doses imported in 2021.
APHIS’ National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) Portal allows real-time communication and data exchange
between APHIS and biologics manufacturers, reducing the time and costs for application review. By the end of
2022, 94 percent of licensed firms and permittees were using the Portal. This resulted in CVB receiving 99
percent of marketing documents, 98 percent of biographical summaries, 91 percent of licensing correspondence,
and 68 percent of inspection and compliance correspondence through the Portal. In 2022, the Portal received 87
percent of export certificates and 94 percent of facility documents. Import permits submitted electronically
represented 99 percent of Research and Evaluation Permits, 100 percent of Transit Permits, and 54 percent of
Sales and Distribution Permits. Overall, 92 percent of 2022 CVB submissions were received through the Portal.
Each year, APHIS inspects an average of 50 biologics facilities to assure regulatory compliance. Despite
COVID-19 travel restrictions, this number increased in 2022. In addition to the innovative ways in which the
CVB has been conducting inspections virtually to allow for timely oversight and approval of new and remodeled
biologics manufacturing facilities due to COVID-19, the Center also resumed on-site inspections.
APHIS continues implementing the single-tier labeling rule, which changes the efficacy descriptions for
veterinary biologics to a single, uniform label claim. This simpler format better communicates product
performance, saves time and money for the manufacturer, and aligns U.S. labeling with international markets. In
addition, APHIS clearly defined policy to allow the use of platform and prescription vaccines. These policies
allow stakeholders the flexibility to quickly change vaccines to match emerging and changing pathogen threats
with very limited risk to people, animals, or the environment.
APHIS promotes U.S. policy for the oversight of biologics as a regulatory model for established and developing
markets, and it improves the worldwide marketability of USDA-licensed biologics. The Agency participated in
harmonization efforts with major trading partners including Japan and the European Union through the
International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal
Products. Additionally, CVB participates in the Veterinary International Conference on Harmonization’s (VICH)
Outreach Forum. This forum promotes the use of VICH harmonized guidelines in countries with developing
regulatory systems for veterinary medicinal products. To further improve the marketability of USDA-licensed
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biologics in overseas markets, CVB worked with the industry to create and issue an Inspection Certificate
program which provides Good Manufacturing Practices certificates that align with regulatory authorities and
facilitate the marketing of U.S. prepared products in the international arena.
Overall, base funding for the Veterinary Biologics program currently supports salaries and benefits of personnel,
and contracts and agreements, as well as normal operating costs such as supplies, travel, rent, and utilities to
conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $738,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(9) Veterinary Diagnostics: A decrease of $352,000 ($63,777,000 and 196 FTE available in 2023).
Laboratory and diagnostic services are essential components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure. The
Veterinary Diagnostics line item provides partial funding for the National Veterinary Services Laboratories
(NVSL), which consists of laboratories in Ames, Iowa, and Plum Island, New York. The NVSL is recognized by
the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization as an
international reference laboratory for significant animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot-
and-mouth disease (FMD), and rinderpest. NVSL currently maintains WOAH reference laboratory status for 14
diseases of veterinary significance. It provides diagnostic test services ranging from a single laboratory test to
comprehensive laboratory services covering many pathogens for suspected outbreaks of domestic and foreign
animal diseases (FADs). The line item also supports the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN),
which is an animal disease surveillance and monitoring system that interconnects Federal and State laboratory
resources to improve the security of the nation’s livestock by providing disease diagnostics both daily and at
increased levels during outbreaks. This line item also supports efforts to stand up the National Bio and Agro-
Defense Facility (NBAF) in Kansas which will help protect the nation’s agriculture, farmers, and citizens against
the threat and potential impact of serious FADs. NBAF will replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center
(PIADC) in New York. The diagnostic testing funded by this line item can rapidly confirm the presence or
absence of a particular animal disease and promptly provide decision makers with vital information that could
have significant trade impacts and prevent or mitigate the spread of devastating animal diseases.
Diagnostic testing and confirmation of surveillance samples improves the security of the nation’s livestock.
NVSL is often on the forefront of emerging and re-emerging diseases of concern including African swine fever
(ASF), virulent Newcastle disease virus, tilapia lake virus, infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis
virus, Senecavirus A (SVA), bluetongue, vesicular stomatitis virus, and rabbit hemorrhagic virus. NVSL
maintains a web-based portal for entering sample information to minimize the manual re-entry of this
information. The laboratories produced and shipped approximately 100,000 reagent order items in 2022,
representing approximately 552 types of products. Many of these products are only available to stakeholders
through APHIS.
APHIS conducts proficiency testing of Federal, State, and university-sponsored laboratories when these
laboratories perform authorized diagnostic testing as part of APHIS-approved surveillance and/or response
programs. This is done to ensure that they use standardized, rapid diagnostic techniques and to maintain the
credibility of U.S. diagnostic test results in the international marketplace. In FY 2022, APHIS made 32 types of
proficiency panels available to international, Federal, State, and private laboratories within and outside the
NAHLN network. APHIS made the necessary controls and reference strains available for approximately 200
diseases to help other laboratories develop and validate diagnostic tests. User fees cover the cost of some
reagents and proficiency panels.
The Veterinary Diagnostics program also provides support for the NAHLN, which serves as a vital early warning
system for foreign and emerging animal diseases. The NAHLN consists of approximately 60 Federal, State, and
university veterinary diagnostic laboratories in 42 States. These laboratories work with NVSL reference
laboratories to test for 14 economically devastating and/or FADs and potentially zoonotic diseases. These
include FMD, influenza in avian and swine species, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and classical swine
fever. Each year, network laboratories perform approximately 300,000 diagnostic tests to support APHIS’ animal
health surveillance and response programs for NAHLN scope diseases, including the NAHLN ASF/classical
swine fever active surveillance. NAHLN program staff conduct exercises to prepare participating laboratories for
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animal disease outbreak scenarios and enable them to remain proficient in animal disease testing. It also enables
them to generate a rapid, local preliminary diagnostic result while NVSL performs confirmatory testing.
APHIS continues to expand its ASF rapid detection capability to maintain a timely, effective response and build
surge capacity in case of an outbreak. In addition, the Agency is engaging in collaborative efforts at FADDL and
across the NAHLN to strengthen ASF diagnostic preparedness. To enhance capacity in the NAHLN, APHIS
provided proficiency testing to NAHLN laboratories, expanding its ASF testing capacity in 2022, from 48 to 49
approved laboratories. The Agency continues to develop strategies to use oral fluids to achieve early and rapid
detection of positive cases.
APHIS continues to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USDA’s Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) to plan for the move from the PIADC to the NBAF. In addition, USDA and DHS
continue planning to transfer NBAF management and oversight from DHS to USDA. The PIADC, home to
APHIS’ Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL), is the only U.S. laboratory permitted to work
with virulent FMD virus and hold rinderpest virus. In addition, FADDL is the custodian of the North American
FMD Vaccine Bank and also manages the U.S. National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank.
NBAF will be a key national asset to protect the U.S. animal agriculture industry and will be the first and only
U.S. facility with large animal Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) containment capability. The NBAF steady-state
operations are assumed to begin in 2025, once the BSL-4 laboratories are fully operational. After the transfer,
ARS will own the buildings, and ARS and APHIS will have leadership responsibilities on operational aspects of
the facility and for their own science programs. In 2023, NBAF ownership will transfer to ARS, with both ARS
and APHIS having responsibilities on operational aspects of the facility and for their own science programs.
Each agency will transition their programs in a phased approach. The mission transfer from PIADC is planned to
be completed in 2025.
APHIS and ARS continue to develop a workforce of subject matter experts in foreign, emerging, and zoonotic
diseases to conduct diagnostics in preparation for the NBAF transition. Workforce development is critical, given
the significant loss of expertise expected during the transition and the need to transfer the FAD diagnostic
institutional knowledge to NBAF. While USDA can train diagnosticians to perform specific tests, interpreting
unclear results and troubleshooting diagnostic assays when they do not perform properly requires a high level of
experience. Additionally, APHIS anticipates a potentially significant expertise gap, particularly during the first 5
to 10 years of operations, based on the time required to develop expertise in this area. To address this possible
workforce gap, APHIS operates the NBAF Scientist Training Program (NSTP) to meet the needs for subject
matter experts in foreign animal and zoonotic diseases. Through this program, USDA is developing personnel to
fill NBAF positions through continued service agreements. This program is critical because subject matter
expertise and international recognition in FAD diagnostics take years to develop, yet APHIS does not expect the
entire FADDL workforce with that expertise to relocate to NBAF. This development program will help preserve
and transfer the U.S. FAD diagnostic institutional knowledge to NBAF.
a) A decrease of $1,500,000 for the NAHLN.
The NAHLN serves as a vital early warning system for foreign and emerging animal diseases. APHIS’
support for the NAHLN includes infrastructure in NAHLN laboratories; NAHLN program staff; the APHIS
Laboratory Portal, which provides a secure means of communication for the laboratories and proficiency test
management for NAHLN and non-NAHLN APHIS-approved laboratories; information management
personnel to support electronic messaging; and quality management training used by NAHLN laboratories to
maintain qualifications for participating in the network. At the proposed funding level, APHIS would
continue working with the NAHLN-participating laboratories on the highest-priority animal health issues
but would reduce the funding the Agency provides to support infrastructure needs through this line item,
primarily related to quality management and electronic messaging systems. Congress provided additional
funds to support the NAHLN in recent years, primarily through the 2018 Farm Bill. The Agency will
leverage remaining funding from all sources in the most effective manner.
b) An increase of $1,148,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
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(10) Zoonotic Disease Management: An increase of $2,863,000 and 8 FTE ($21,567,000 and 62 FTE available in
2023).
The Zoonotic Disease Management (ZDM) Program enhances State, national, and international collaborative
efforts to promote healthy animals, people, and ecosystems by addressing zoonotic diseases and relevant One
Health issues, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “One Health” is a collaborative, multisectoral, and
trans-disciplinary approach with the goal to achieve optimal health outcomes while recognizing the
interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. According to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health, 60 percent of human
pathogens are zoonotic, and 75 percent of emerging diseases are zoonotic (including Ebola, Zika, MERS, and
SARS). Most of these zoonotic diseases originate from animal reservoirs. The Agency collaborates with industry
and State partners to develop strategies, policies, and trainings to help stakeholders effectively engage with
public health counterparts, provide guidance, facilitate information exchange, and enhance responses to One
Health issues. By enhancing APHIS’ efforts to address the animal health component of One Health, the ZDM
program protects public health and improves animal health and marketability.
AMR is the ability of a microbe to resist the effects of antimicrobials previously used to treat them. The Agency
works with State, Federal, and industry partners, to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials, which supports a
strong, healthy, and thriving U.S. animal agriculture system, as well as public health. In addition, APHIS works
with other USDA agencies to develop practical mitigation strategies to reduce AMR prevalence in human and
animal health. These strategies cover various efforts including AMR monitoring at the farm level, collection of
antimicrobial drug use data, and efforts to promote stewardship of antimicrobial drugs by animal owners and
veterinarians. Additionally, APHIS works with State Departments of Agriculture, diagnostic laboratories, and
public health officials to address AMR infections in humans found to have an animal component.
APHIS coordinates with cross sector partners to develop and implement national and international One Health
strategies and strengthen our emergency response capacities to ensure a quick response to zoonotic diseases.
APHIS participates in multisectoral groups that emphasize the mission of One Health, including the Interagency
Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration. APHIS also uses its position as a coordination leader on the
national effort to address the animal health component of One Health for SAR-COV-2. APHIS subject matter
experts provide consultation and guidance to State animal and public health agencies on decisions and testing of
animals for SARS-CoV-2.
Overall, base funding for the ZDM program currently supports salaries and benefits, as well as other normal
operating expenses such as travel, supplies, equipment, and rent, and utilities to conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $2,500,000 and 8 FTE for antimicrobial resistance activities.
The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Program conducts national studies on the health
and health management of United States domestic livestock and poultry populations. Current funding levels
for APHIS’ work around antimicrobial resistance has limited the number of species, and number of animals,
the Agency is able to survey as part of NAHMS. AMR is a threat to both agricultural productivity and
human health, and additional funds are needed for APHIS to support this work at the level needed to protect
both. The Agency will expand data collection efforts on antibiotic use in swine, poultry, and cattle
operations, three commodities of high concern for AMR prevalence, as well as other livestock species of
interest. This work will be done in partnership with producer groups, academia, Federal partners, and other
stakeholders. APHIS will expand efforts around data analysis to better inform on-farm antibiotic use
decision-making and expand our education and outreach efforts around antibiotic stewardship with our
livestock stakeholders, other Federal agencies, and traditional and non-traditional stakeholders.
The current National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) pilot project monitors antimicrobial
resistance profiles and trends in animal pathogens. APHIS is using the information gathered from this pilot
to establish a long-term AMR surveillance program. There is a gap in understanding AMR patterns in
bacteria that cause disease in animals and having national-level information on AMR in animal health
pathogens is an important component of addressing AMR at the Federal level. These additional funds will
help make this pilot permanent and further increase the capacity and resilience of APHIS’ ability to monitor
and report on AMR in animals and on farm. Specifically, APHIS will: 1) increase the number of laboratory
submissions to improve the usefulness of the data to veterinarians and the general public; 2) increase the
capacity and expertise at NVSL to act as the technical reference laboratory for antimicrobial resistant
bacteria, and expand proficiency testing and laboratory training; 3) develop improved characterization
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methods for detecting AMR resistance using both genomic and proteomic approaches; and, 4) continue to
expand APHIS participation in AMR interagency collaborations.
b) An increase of $363,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
An increase of $11,593,000 and 5 FTE for Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response – Plant Health
(11) Agricultural Quarantine Inspection: An increase of $2,149,000 ($35,541,000 and 367 FTE available in 2023).
APHIS conducts predeparture agricultural quarantine inspections of passengers and cargo traveling from Hawaii
and Puerto Rico to the continental United States to prevent the introduction of non-native agricultural pests and
diseases into the mainland. Hawaii and Puerto Rico have pests and diseases harmful to agriculture that are not
established in the continental United States. For example, a variety of economically devastating fruit flies –
particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) and Oriental fruit fly – and scale pests are present in Hawaii. In
2015, Puerto Rico experienced its first Medfly outbreak, along with an outbreak of the old-world bollworm.
Plant and plant products, such as fruits and other commodities, easily carry pests that would cause significant
economic damage to the mainland United States. In addition to the citrus industry that may be at risk (with a
production value of more than $3 billion in 2021, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service),
cut flower and nursery stock production is also at risk from the pests and diseases present in Hawaii and Puerto
Rico. Two significant cotton pests, pink bollworm and the cottonseed bug, are present in Puerto Rico and could
be brought into the United States on cargo shipments without an effective inspection program. Additionally, the
presence of African swine fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic and Haiti poses a risk to Puerto Rico and to
the U.S. mainland because of proximity and trade and travel patterns. As part of the ASF emergency program,
APHIS enhanced predeparture inspection operations for passenger baggage from Puerto Rico as an emergency
preparedness measure and will continue the enhanced focus on animal products to prevent high-risk products
from entering the continental United States. The predeparture inspection program facilitates tourism and
agricultural trade between Hawaii and Puerto Rico and the mainland United States, while protecting farmers and
producers in the continental United States from the entry of various plant pests and diseases.
Because of the significant risks associated with numerous fruits, vegetables, and other plant products from
Hawaii and Puerto Rico, as well as animal products capable of transmitting ASF, APHIS inspects all baggage of
passengers leaving these islands. While the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact international travel in
2022, travel from Hawaii and Puerto Rico to the continental United States was higher in 2022 than in 2019, the
last full year before the pandemic. In 2022, APHIS inspected the baggage of 14.4 million passengers, compared
to just over 13 million in 2019. APHIS conducts these activities as the national plant health regulatory authority
in the United States charged with protecting the health and value of agricultural resources. For commercial cargo,
the program oversees treatments and conducts inspections in Puerto Rico for mangoes, cotton, tomatoes, cut
flowers, and a variety of other commodities to allow them to be transported and sold in the continental United
States. In Hawaii, the program oversees treatments for and inspects a variety of commodities destined for the
continental United States, including papayas, bananas, sweet potatoes, herbs such as basil, cut flowers, and
ginger root. APHIS inspectors continued critical work facilitating the movement of cargo, conducting treatments,
and inspecting containment facilities and first-class mail. In 2022, the program conducted 48,548 inspections of
regulated agricultural commodities shipped from Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In addition, the program oversaw or
conducted 6,779 cargo treatments in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Treatments allow farmers in Hawaii and Puerto
Rico to expand the types of high-value, perishable products that they can ship to the continental United States,
including sweet potatoes and tropical fruits such as litchi and longan.
The Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program keeps interstate trade flowing smoothly and safely and
allows for efficient processing of tourists, protecting both the economies of Hawaii and Puerto Rico and the
agricultural health of the continental United States. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is modernizing its
airport infrastructure and adding a new concourse, which will affect two locations, the Ellison Onizuka Kona
International Airport located on the island of Hawaii and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport located in
Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The Honolulu expansion is complete, and APHIS added new x-ray machines in
each of the six new gatehouses and adjusted staffing to cover the new gates. The Kona airport, expected to be
complete in winter of calendar year 2023, will include a new centralized checkpoint led by the Transportation
Security Administration and have two new gates that will allow the airport to accommodate 10 additional flights
per day. APHIS will adjust operations, including the purchase of additional x-ray machines and adjustments to
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staffing levels when it is complete. The program’s inspections reduce the impact of agricultural pests and
diseases on farmers in the continental United States, minimizing production losses and pest control costs and
preserving export markets for U.S. agricultural products. Without this program, the risk of pest or disease
introduction from Hawaii and Puerto Rico to the mainland United States would greatly increase. Additionally,
many commodities would not be allowed entry to the continental United States without the inspections and
treatments provided by the program, impacting Hawaiian and Puerto Rican producers. Maintaining the
safeguards this program provides is essential, especially considering the increasing U.S. consumer demand for
year-round fruits and vegetables.
Overall, base funding for the AQI program currently supports salaries and benefits of inspectors and other staff,
as well as normal operating expenses such as rent, utilities, travel, and supplies to conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $2,149,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(12) Cotton Pests program: An increase of $287,000 ($15,450,000 and 49 FTE available in 2023).
The Cotton Pests program, in cooperation with States, the cotton industry, and Mexico, works to eradicate the
boll weevil (BW) from all cotton-producing areas of the United States and northern Mexico. For decades, these
pests have cost cotton growers’ tens of millions of dollars each year in control costs and crop losses, according to
the National Cotton Council.
APHIS’ Cotton Pests program also partners with States and industry to address pink bollworm (PBW). On
October 19, 2018, USDA and industry partners officially announced the successful eradication of PBW from all
commercial cotton-producing areas in the continental United States. In 2018, Florida added a PBW quarantine
for an area in the Everglades where a wild PBW population has persisted for the last 80 years and appears to only
be active in wild cotton. As a result, APHIS, along with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services and the Florida cotton industry, began surveying the perimeter of the commercial cotton area in the
northern part of the State and the adjacent okra fields in the city of Homestead to ensure that PBW has not
spread. APHIS continues to survey these areas in Florida to ensure that isolated PBW populations in southern
Florida do not move into the commercial cotton production areas north of the Everglades.
APHIS provides national coordination, operational oversight, technology development and a portion of funding
through cost-share programs with States. APHIS’ partners have provided more than two-thirds of the funding for
the BW eradication effort and most of the operational funds to eradicate PBW. The program also maintains
capabilities to address other cotton pests that could enter the United States.
APHIS provides technical advice on trapping and treatment protocols to our partners in Mexico to aid in their
efforts to eradicate BW. Without continued Federal funding, support, and technical expertise for the final phase
of the program, eradication would not be possible and previously eradicated cotton acreage would be vulnerable
to reinfestation. Additionally, U.S. cotton production is at risk of new pest introductions, as well as re-infestation
of cotton-producing areas where boll weevil and PBW have already been eradicated.
APHIS and our State and cotton industry partners have eradicated BW from 99 percent of the 11.1 million acres
of U.S. cotton production (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2021). The Lower Rio Grande Valley
(LRGV) in Texas is the last zone within the United States where active BW eradication efforts continue due to
the neighboring Mexican cotton producing state of Tamaulipas. In 2024, APHIS will continue to reduce the BW
population in the LRGV and partner with the U.S. cotton industry on BW surveillance efforts for all U.S. cotton
production. In addition, APHIS will continue to partner with the Mexican BW eradication program to provide
technical assistance and funding through the North American Plant Protection Organization agreement for their
parallel program to the LRGV program.
According to the National Cotton Council of America, where BW has been eradicated, the combined annual
direct economic benefits from increased yields, reduced insect damage and lower insect control costs are more
than $80 million.
Overall, base funding for the Cotton Pests program currently supports salaries and benefits, cooperative
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agreements, and programmatic contracts, as well as other normal operating expenses such as travel, rent, and
utilities to conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $287,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(13) Field Crop and Rangeland Ecosystem Pests program: An increase of $439,000 ($14,986,000 and 77 FTE
available in 2023).
The Field Crop and Rangeland Ecosystem Pests (FCREP) program protects U.S. agricultural crops and
rangelands from the establishment or spread of invasive or economically significant pests. In doing so, it
facilitates safe international trade and domestic commerce, preserves economic opportunities for U.S. farmers
and ranchers, and fosters healthy ecosystems in rangelands and other areas. APHIS conducts survey and
suppression activities in western States to reduce grasshopper and Mormon cricket (GMC) infestations that could
cause significant economic losses for livestock producers by requiring them to buy supplemental feed or sell
their livestock at reduced prices. APHIS develops treatments for land managers to remove imported fire ant
(IFA) from their products and prevent re-infestation; conducts regulatory activities to prevent Karnal bunt (KB)
and IFA from “hitchhiking” on regulated articles (i.e., nursery stock and farm equipment) to uninfested areas of
the United States and foreign countries through trade; and, conducts survey, treatment, and regulatory activities
for witchweed infestations in North Carolina and South Carolina to protect U.S. corn production. This program
directly protects more than 230,000 acres of wheat and corn (based on APHIS analysis). It indirectly protects all
U.S. wheat and corn production, valued at more than $84 billion in calendar year 2021 (National Agricultural
Statistics Service, Crop Values 2021 Summary), from the spread of KB and witchweed.
When grasshopper populations reach outbreak levels, they can decimate grasslands. APHIS’ GMC program
monitors and protects 661 million acres of rangeland each year. A 2012 University of Wyoming study found that
healthy rangeland provides forage value worth $6.7 billion and overall benefits ranging from $10.7 to $21.2
billion. Each year, APHIS conducts surveys in western States for GMC, collecting data at 30,685 survey points
in 2022, to determine where potential outbreaks could occur and where treatments might be necessary. The
program also addresses witchweed, a parasitic plant that can significantly damage corn, sorghum, and sugarcane.
If witchweed were to spread throughout the Corn Belt, crop yields for corn and sorghum could decrease by 10
percent and trade in commodities from these areas could be negatively impacted.
APHIS’ IFA program works to prevent human-assisted spread of this pest by requiring treatment of materials
capable of harboring IFA, such as nursery stock and hay, are treated before leaving infested areas. Based on
studies of areas with climate suitable for IFA (Korzukhin et. al, Environmental Ecology, 2001), APHIS estimates
that preventing human-assisted spread is protecting up to 10 States from potential infestations. APHIS will
continue conducting annual surveys and other activities to manage these pests in 2024.
APHIS coordinates an annual voluntary survey of the grain delivered to elevators to check for KB across the
country and conducts regulatory activities to prevent the spread of the disease from the remaining infested area in
Arizona. Based on the program’s quarantine and survey data, APHIS issues export certificates that are required
by countries importing U.S. wheat. These certificates demonstrate to trading partners the safety of U.S. wheat
exports, retaining export markets and facilitating wheat movement into international markets. If KB funding was
eliminated, the disease could enter the grain market system and directly impact almost every State. Many trading
partners will not accept U.S. wheat exports unless the commodity is certified to be from areas where KB is not
known to occur. Working with cooperators, APHIS has reduced the wheat production areas regulated for KB
from all or portions of 4 States to 106,738 acres in Arizona since 1996 (with more than 20,000 acres removed
from quarantine in 2022). APHIS will continue survey and regulatory activities aimed at keeping KB from
causing damage and/or trade disruptions in 2024.
The FCREP program is also working to address pests and other stressors that impact roseau cane, an important
grass species in wetland areas of the lower Mississippi Delta, Louisiana. The plant’s root system provides
wildlife habitat, protects the interior from storm surges, and protects riverbanks from erosion, which impacts the
Mississippi River navigation channel. Since 2017, researchers from Louisiana State University (LSU) and ARS
have investigated multiple potential stressors causing dieback of roseau cane in the Mississippi River Delta.
These stressors include high water levels, salinity intrusion, scale insects, plant pathogens, and soil chemistry.
The work to date by the roseau cane die-back team has improved our understanding of plant stressors on roseau
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cane and the biology, distribution, feeding ecology, and impact of the scale insect attacking the cane at the
Mississippi River Delta. APHIS will continue this effort in 2024, with LSU and ARS.
APHIS will also continue working with States to address cogongrass, an invasive perennial weed that is a prolific
seed producer and forms an extensive rhizome network underground. The wind-dispersed seeds are easily spread
along rights of way encouraging population expansion. Cogongrass invades pine plantations and is believed to
create chemical interference that decreases pine production. Controlling this weed is difficult because its
rhizomes are drought, fire, and herbicide tolerant. APHIS estimates that cogongrass has the potential to spread
across 82 percent of the United States. APHIS provided funds to Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South
Carolina to address cogongrass in 2022, and will continue providing funds to these States in 2023 and 2024 to
combat cogongrass.
Overall, base funding for the FCREP program currently supports salaries and benefits, cooperative agreements,
and programmatic contracts. Other funding supports normal operating expenses such as rent, utilities, travel,
supplies, and equipment to conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $439,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(14) Pest Detection program: An increase of $1,089,000 ($29,075,000 and 186 FTE available in 2023).
The Pest Detection program serves as the early warning system for the detection of plant pests of economic and
environmental significance in the United States. The program helps farmers and producers by documenting the
status (or absence) of plant pests and diseases that could impact trade opportunities, both interstate and
international. It also helps APHIS’ State-level partners by providing funding and infrastructure to conduct
surveys for high-risk pests that may affect their State. The information the program collects provides the basis for
APHIS’ emergency response and regulatory efforts that preserve economic opportunities for farmers and
safeguard U.S. agricultural and natural resources. Specifically, the program identifies and prioritizes plant pest
and disease threats; develops scientifically sound pest survey protocols; procures essential survey materials
(traps, lures, etc.); cooperates with State partners to conduct the pest surveys; and shares data with States about
significant pest detections.
APHIS provides national coordination for the program and develops policies and procedures for commodity-
based and resource-based pest surveys. These surveys enable APHIS and cooperators to target high-risk hosts
and commodities, gather data about pests specific to a commodity, and provide accurate assessments of pest
distribution, including pest-free areas. Negative data from program surveys supports U.S. market access for
several important commodities by demonstrating that the pests are not present. Examples include data showing
that the Khapra beetle, a serious pest of wheat and grain, and the European grapevine moth, a pest of grapes, are
not present in the United States. Additionally, while many entities are involved in protecting crops and resources,
APHIS’ role is to verify that U.S. exported products do not pose risks to other countries. For example, when a
survey first detected the pale cyst nematode in Idaho, the program had data demonstrating negative survey results
in other potato-producing States that kept export markets open for U.S. potatoes. The value of the markets that
remain open was more than $276 million in calendar year 2021 (Foreign Agricultural Service Global
Agricultural Trade System). As a result of this program, highly skilled, national cadres of surveyors are in the
field on a daily basis looking for high-risk pests. In 2022, the program and its cooperators conducted a total of
326 surveys in 50 States and 5 territories targeting more than 97 percent of the high-risk pests and diseases
identified for the year’s surveys. APHIS and State cooperators conduct surveys for multiple pests at each
location for efficiency and economy of survey.
Early pest detection is important to avert economic and environmental damage; once a pest becomes established
or spreads significantly the mitigation costs can reach millions of dollars, in addition to lost farm revenues and
damage to ecosystems. The Pest Detection program communicates and develops partnerships through
cooperative agreements with state departments of agriculture and natural resources, universities, industry
partners, tribal and local governments and communities, non-profit organizations, and individuals in all 50
States.
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Overall, base funding for the Pest Detection program currently supports salaries and benefits, and cooperative
agreements, as well as other normal operating expenses such as travel, rent, utilities, and supplies to conduct
program activities.
a) An increase of $1,089,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(15) Plant Protection Methods Development program: A decrease of $1,000 ($22,557,000 and 130 FTE
available in 2023).
The goal of the Plant Protection Methods Development (PPMD) program is to develop scientifically viable and
practical tools for exotic plant pest exclusion, detection, and management. The program plays an essential role in
APHIS’ mission by developing tools for the detection of exotic plant pests in survey programs; molecular
diagnostic tests and identification tools for pest identification; integrated pest management methods, including
biological control, to help eradicate or manage invasive pests; and treatments to support interstate and
international trade.
APHIS’ nationwide pest detection surveys and pest management programs depend on accurate and effective
tools. The PPMD program supports development of pest trapping, identification, and survey technologies.
Digital pest identification tools and molecular diagnostics developed through PPMD funding supports both
domestic programs and import pest identification responsibilities. APHIS uses these tools to conclusively
identify exotic species introductions in order to take appropriate regulatory actions. The program also develops
pest management techniques that APHIS national programs use to manage or eradicate invasive pest threats.
The PPMD program aims to develop new, or improve existing, tools each year to enhance APHIS’ safeguarding
capabilities. For pest identification, the program continues to design, develop, and deliver digital, media-rich,
identification tools for APHIS to support trade and domestic, port, and offshore pest identification
responsibilities.
The PPMD program also maintains its own quarantine and rearing facilities for biological control agents in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and Guatemala. APHIS partners with USDA’s
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State departments of agriculture,
universities in 30 States and Territories, and two Native American Tribes to evaluate and establish biological
control agents for invasive plants, pests, and diseases. The biological control program has been responsive in
developing biological control agents to address invasive pests and weeds such as Asian longhorned beetle,
emerald ash borer (EAB), roseau cane scale, air potato, and spotted lanternfly. The biological control portfolio in
2022, included 38 cooperative agreements with States and Tribal Nations that collectively attack 25 weeds and
three arthropod pests.
The PPMD program also supports research related to invasive honey bee pests, specifically Varroa mites. A
Varroa mite feeds on the honey bee’s fat body tissue (an organ similar to the human liver), in turn weakening and
shortening the bee's life. The Varroa mite is considered the greatest single driver of the global honey bee colony
losses (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Jan 2019: “Varroa destructor feeds primarily on honey
bee fat body tissue and not hemolymph.”). In 2022, the program funded priority projects with other Federal and
State agencies, as well as the public, to support managing, suppressing, and eradicating Varroa mites, as well as
small hive beetles and other pests and diseases contributing to a decline in honey bee health.
In 2024, the program will continue working to develop new management tools and pest detection methods for the
highest priority pests and diseases.
Overall, base funding for the PPMD program currently supports salaries and benefits, cooperative agreements,
and programmatic contracts, as well as other normal operating expenses such as travel, rent, and supplies to
conduct program activities.
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a) A decrease of $750,000 for activities related to the northern giant hornet.
The northern giant hornet is a pest of honey bees, wasps, and other related insects. APHIS confirmed the
first detection of the northern giant hornet in the United States in Washington State in December 2019. The
Agency has used funds from its Plant Protection Act 7721 program to support development of methods to
detect and eradicate the hornet and support Washington State’s eradication activities. Congress provided
funding in 2023 to continue this work, including continuing work on lures to improve detection capabilities
and understanding the pest’s population genetics, among other things. The 2024 Budget proposes to
eliminate this funding in support of cost savings. Cooperators would be responsible for funding these
activities or requesting funding through the Agency’s Plant Protection Act 7721 program.
b) An increase of $749,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(16) Specialty Crop Pests: An increase of $5,920,000 and 5 FTE ($216,117,000 and 796 FTE available in 2023).
The Specialty Crop Pests (SCP) program protects U.S. farmers and producers of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts,
horticulture, and nursery crops from adverse impacts associated with invasive pests, such as crop damage or
threats to international trade and interstate commerce. APHIS works in coordination with State, Tribal,
university, and industry partners to prevent or mitigate impacts from invasive pests of Federal regulatory
significance. These efforts promote the ability of U.S. farmers and producers to export their products, prevent
damage to specialty crop production, and protect natural resources, including forests and residential landscapes.
Specialty crops are of high value and are grown in all 50 States. APHIS’ SCP program directly protected
specialty crop production worth more than $11 million in calendar year 2021, and indirectly protected additional
specialty crop production valued at nearly $7 billion by preventing the spread of these damaging pests and
diseases to new areas (APHIS internal analysis based on National Agricultural Statistics Service data). APHIS is
currently using SCP resources to address the following pests and diseases: exotic fruit flies, a variety of citrus
pests and diseases, pale cyst nematode (PCN), navel orangeworm (NOW), light brown apple moth, European
grapevine moth (EGVM), glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Phytophtora ramorum, and spotted lanternfly
(SLF), among others.
The SCP program partners with affected industries, States, Tribes, academic institutions, and other Federal
agencies to deliver domestic programs. Additionally, the program works with its counterparts in foreign
countries to address pest risks offshore. For example, the SCP program works with Mexico, Guatemala, and
Belize to mitigate the risk of exotic fruit flies entering the United States. The program has kept the United States
free of Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) and Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) for many years by conducting preventive
releases of sterile insects to disrupt normal population growth in at-risk areas; detecting and responding to
outbreaks when they occur; maintaining a barrier against the natural spread of the Medfly in Mexico and Central
America; and developing advanced methods for survey and control. Medfly has a host list that includes 300
cultivated and wild fruits. The Mexfly also has a wide-ranging host list and presents a particular threat to the
Texas citrus industry due to its proximity to infested areas in Mexico. Increasingly, tephritid fruit flies of the
genus Bactrocera pose a threat. There have been several outbreaks in California and Florida in the past decade.
APHIS and cooperators maintain 160,000 fruit fly traps in vulnerable areas of the United States to ensure that
any introductions of exotic fruit flies are quickly detected. In 2022, APHIS continued addressing Mexfly
outbreaks in Texas with increased sterile fly releases and worked with growers to remove host material from
quarantined areas. With these enhanced activities, the program completed the response effort and removed the
last remaining quarantined area in November 2022 after two and a half years. The program also addressed
several exotic fruit fly outbreaks in California. Without the program’s efforts to detect and eradicate these
outbreaks when they occur, many important crops would become impossible to grow due to fruit fly infestations.
To reduce ongoing risks related to Mexfly infestations in Texas, the program shifted to a strain of sterile
Mexflies that enable male and female flies to be separated and only the males released, for more efficient
targeting of wild flies. The program is evaluating options for upgrading its outdated sterile Mexfly facility in
Texas to ensure the program’s success on an ongoing basis. APHIS will continue activities to prevent, detect and
respond to any outbreaks that occur in 2024.
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APHIS also works with citrus producing States and industry groups to support industry’s ability to grow and
market U.S. citrus despite the presence of devastating diseases such as citrus greening, also known as
Huanglongbing (HLB). Through the Citrus Health Response Program, APHIS supports cooperators in citrus-
producing States with on-the-ground operations, such as surveys, regulatory inspections, and outreach to affected
growers and the public, as well as methods development activities. APHIS conducts inspections of Florida citrus
shipments destined for export to the European Union and other countries, allowing citrus producers to take
advantage of export opportunities. APHIS also conducts survey and treatment activities for citrus pests and
diseases in Mexico, working to coordinate the timing of treatments for pests such as Asian citrus psyllid along
both sides of the U.S. border to maximize the effectiveness of pest suppression activities. Because of the ongoing
threat that HLB poses, APHIS, other Federal agencies, State partners, and the citrus industry have worked
together on the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) group since 2013, to identify and implement tools to
combat the disease. By funding work to bridge the gap between research and field deployment, the HLB MAC
Group speeds implementation of practical tools that can aid the citrus industry to combat HLB. Since 2019, the
HLB MAC group has initiated a grower-collaborative approach that brings researchers and growers together to
generate data that will serve as the foundation for grower-specific guidance on best management practices for
HLB. The solutions found through this effort will continue to help citrus growers manage the disease while
research into long-term solutions for HLB continues. APHIS will continue to address HLB and other citrus
diseases in 2024.
Federal response activities take place in concentrated areas where the infestations occur (e.g., PCN in Idaho or
exotic fruit fly outbreaks in areas of California, Florida, or Texas), but also work to protect all at-risk States
producing specialty crops. For example, while the SCP program works to address the PCN in Idaho, it also
conducts nationwide surveys for the pest to demonstrate to trading partners that potato-producing areas outside
of the quarantined area are not affected by PCN, protecting fresh potato export markets worth $276 million in
2021 (Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agricultural Trade System Database). The program also addressed
plum pox virus (PPV), a devastating viral disease of stone fruit, in New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
USDA declared the United States free of PPV in October 2019. APHIS has completed surveys for PPV and will
maintain PPV-preparedness by ensuring that the United States has certified laboratories and diagnosticians for
rapid response activities, protecting more than 1 million acres of stone fruit across the United States. Without the
SCP program, trading partners might not accept a variety of U.S. fruits and vegetables. The value of trade in
specialty crops that could potentially be disrupted without the SCP program was $4.2 billion in 2021, according
to an internal APHIS report using data from the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Trade
System.
Through the SCP program, APHIS also addresses SLF, a serious pest of grapes, apples, hops, walnut trees, and
other hardwood trees. APHIS and cooperators are using an area-wide strategy that includes expanded
surveillance, control, and outreach activities for this pest. Agricultural producers across the country are
concerned about the pest’s spread. There is a strong correlation between new SLF populations and major
transportation pathways, such as railroads and interstate corridors. APHIS conducts targeted treatments and, in
some areas, removes SLF’s preferred host plant, tree of heaven, from transportation hubs with the aim of
reducing the risk of SLF spread to new areas. APHIS and cooperators also continue to conduct treatments on the
leading edge of the infestation and to eradicate isolated infestations. SLF is particularly damaging in vineyards
and preventing it from spreading to new areas and continuing to develop new treatment methods will protect
grape production across the country. APHIS and the National Plant Board and the National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture developed a strategic plan to guide the program over the next five years with three
goals, including limiting advancement of SLF spread, identifying new tools and options for SLF control and
management, and developing a national and state outreach and educational campaign for the public and
industries at risk due to long-range dispersal of SLF. The strategic plan working group is developing options for
the best use of resources to accomplish the goals. U.S grape production was worth approximately $5.5 billion in
calendar year 2021 (NASS Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts Summary, May 2022).
APHIS partnered with the State of California and grape growers to eradicate EGVM and continues to prevent the
spread of GWSS into other grape-producing areas. APHIS declared the eradication of EGVM in 2016, after an
intensive, 7-year cooperative effort. The program conducted three additional years of post-eradication surveys,
ending in 2019. With EGVM eradicated, APHIS is planning to expand the surveys in 2024 using a multi-lure
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trap that targets four grape pests in addition to EGVM as well as monitor California grape-growing areas for
SLF, to ensure the pest would be detected early if it is introduced. The GWSS program began in 2000, to limit
the spread of GWSS, a vector of Pierce’s disease, which is deadly to grapevines and costly to growers and the
industry. Through survey, treatment, and inspection, the program has restricted GWSS to southern California,
protecting over half of the grape growing acreage in California. APHIS will continue working with partners in
California to prevent the spread of GWSS in 2024 and is expanding EGVM surveys to include additional pests in
California.
APHIS partnered with tree nut industries, as well as Arizona and California State cooperators, to develop sterile
insect technology to address NOW, a serious pest of pistachios, almonds, and walnuts. In 2022, APHIS produced
and released 202 million sterile NOW over pistachio and almond orchards participating in an area-wide program
targeting NOW. APHIS and its partners’ goal is to integrate and expand SIT with other integrated pest
management strategies available to producers. In 2024, APHIS will continue working with cooperators and
producers to manage NOW and help protect nut production worth nearly $9 billion for the 2021/2022 season
(ERS Fruit and Tree Nut Yearbook Tables).
Overall, base program funding supports salaries and benefits, cooperative agreements, as well as other normal
operating expenses such as supplies, equipment, and rent, to support program activities.
a) An increase of $3,383,000 and 5 FTE for fruit fly exclusion and detection activities.
APHIS mitigates the risk of exotic fruit flies through a combination of early detection, rapid response to
outbreaks, and prevention of fruit fly establishment through the release of sterile insects that mate with wild
flies and prevent normal population growth as well as international activities in Mexico and Central America
aimed at stopping the natural, northward spread of Mediterranean fruit fly and Mexican fruit fly. The
program has domestic operations in Florida, Texas, California, and New York, detection networks in other
States with climate and host material suitable for fruit flies, and international operations in Mexico,
Guatemala, and Belize. APHIS suppresses fruit fly populations in these countries to reduce pressure on the
United States and has sterile fruit fly production facilities that provide sterile insects for U.S. operations.
Costs associated with the Agency’s fruit fly program facilities, supplies, staff, and equipment have continued
to increase substantially. APHIS used the additional funds provided in 2023 to offset a portion of the rising
operating costs, but this large program continues to face needs across all areas. Examples of areas where
costs have increased include diet materials for sterile insect production, contracts for aerial release of sterile
insects in Florida and California, and the traps and lures used in the detection efforts across the country and
internationally. The program’s overseas operations incur costs specific to international programs, and these
costs continue to rise as well. These include increases in International Cooperative Administrative Support
Services costs charged by the U.S. State Department to provide shared administrative services at overseas
locations as well as increases to locally employed staff salaries and benefits, which are tied to local laws in
other countries, and increased costs associated with sterile fly production. Additionally, APHIS addressed an
unusually large and long outbreak in Texas over the last two and a half years through increasing the number
of sterile fruit flies released and switching to a different strain of fruit fly, among other enhanced measures.
California has also experienced several fruit fly outbreaks over the same period. To prevent these exotic fruit
fly outbreaks from threatening U.S. agricultural production and export opportunities, APHIS must continue
sterile fruit fly production and release at current levels and maintain its detection networks. The requested
increase of $3,383,000 will allow the program to continue activities to exclude exotic fruit flies from the
United States and detect and respond to introductions that occur by covering the increased costs associated
with sterile fly production and traps, lures, and other equipment necessary to detect and eradicate flies, and
filling of vacancies in the domestic and international program. Without the additional funding, the program’s
ability to maintain its trapping network and sterile insect release programs at current levels will be eroded.
b) A decrease of $1,596,000 for activities to address the light brown apple moth (LBAM).
Effective December 17, 2021, APHIS removed the LBAM quarantine in California and Hawaii. APHIS
reclassified LBAM as a non-quarantine pest, removed all areas under quarantine, and removed movement
restrictions on LBAM host material. Standard pest management practices implemented by producers for
other routine pests have proven to also be effective against LBAM. When APHIS first confirmed detections
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of LBAM in the United States in 2007, the best science available indicated that this moth would be a pest of
economic significance. Over time, however, it became clear that the moth does not cause as much crop
damage as APHIS initially anticipated. APHIS proposes to eliminate Federal funding for LBAM and will
shift staff working on this program to other activities.
c) A decrease of $500,000 related to the apple snail.
The apple snail is an invasive snail from South America that has been found in Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. It has a negative impact on rice and crawfish production
in affected areas. The 2022 and 2023 Appropriations Acts, Consolidated, provided funds for APHIS to
develop an integrated pest management approach to control the pest. In 2022, APHIS worked with ARS to
develop a multi-year project aimed at identifying methods to control the snail. ARS will conduct the work
with cooperators from Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University. APHIS will also provide
funds to ARS in 2023 to continue and expand the methods development work. Following these projects, the
2024 Budget proposes to eliminate the funding.
d) An increase of $4,633,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living increase.
(17) Tree and Wood Pests program: An increase of $1,710,000 ($62,562,000 and 292 FTE available in the
2023).
America’s forests are valuable resources that provide jobs and recreation opportunities and create habitat for
wildlife. Through the Tree and Wood Pests (TWP) program, APHIS addresses devastating pests such as the
Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), emerald ash borer (EAB), spongy moth, formerly referred to as European gypsy
moth (EGM) and flighted spongy moth complex formerly referred to as Asian gypsy moth (AGM). [The
Entomological Society of America selected new common names for EGM, and Asian gypsy moth complex.
APHIS plans to incorporate the new common names across all of APHIS documents, including its regulations,
program manuals, and outreach materials, over the next fiscal year]. Numerous native hardwood tree species that
are common throughout U.S. forests and urban landscapes are hosts to these pests. When forest pests like ALB
kill large numbers of trees in urban and suburban areas, they can cause tremendous, wide-ranging impacts to
communities, landscapes, and commerce. In addition, exports of forest products such as logs and timber could be
at risk due to trade restrictions put in place by other countries.
Nationwide, APHIS programs protect 596 million acres of forested land by preventing the spread of damaging
pests. Without Federal funding, forest pests would spread more rapidly throughout the United States, and
responding to newly introduced pests would become increasingly difficult. The value of forest products that
APHIS protects is nearly $300 billion (American Forest and Paper Association).
APHIS cooperates with State and local agencies and organizations in 48 States to conduct various activities to
manage and, when feasible, eradicate forest pests. These activities include conducting surveys, implementing
control measures, developing methods and processes to combat pests, and conducting outreach efforts to prevent
pest spread. APHIS’ role in the TWP program is to oversee the regulatory framework to prevent the human-
assisted movement of these pests and to provide national oversight and coordination for program activities to
detect and eradicate or manage the pests.
In 2023, APHIS will continue addressing ALB outbreaks in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South
Carolina, and continue pursuing biological control options as a long-term EAB management strategy. In
addition, APHIS, alongside the Forest Service and the EGM Slow-the-Spread Foundation, continues its work to
slow the spread of EGM and eradicate isolated populations, keeping this pest from becoming a larger issue.
Overall, base funding for the TWP program currently support salary and benefits, contracts, and cooperative
agreements, as well as other normal operating expenses such as rent, supplies, travel, and equipment to conduct
program activities.
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a) An increase of $1,710,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
An increase of $354,000 and a decrease of 38 FTE for Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response –
Wildlife Services
(18) Wildlife Damage Management program: An increase of $940,000 and a decrease 36 FTE ($121,957,000
and 623 FTE available in the 2023).
The Wildlife Damage Management (WDM) program resolves human/wildlife conflicts and protects agriculture,
human health and safety, personal property, and natural resources from wildlife damage and wildlife-borne
diseases in the United States. This program protects livestock from predators, manages damage from invasive
species, such as feral swine and brown tree snakes; conducts a national rabies management program; and
manages damage, conflicts, and diseases caused by various wildlife species, such as beavers, double-crested
cormorants, and other migratory birds. APHIS conducts these activities under the authority of the Animal
Damage Control Act, which allows the Agency to control mammals and birds that are a nuisance or serve as
reservoirs for zoonotic diseases. These activities benefit farmers, ranchers, other private landowners, businesses,
and Federal, State, county, and city government offices. APHIS carries these activities out with appropriated
funding the Agency receives as well as funding from Federal, State and local cooperators.
APHIS protects resources and safeguards human health and safety from wildlife damage by providing both
technical and direct control assistance upon request. For example, the Agency will provide assistance if a rancher
is experiencing predators killing their cattle and sheep, or if a farmer is having trouble with fish-eating birds
damaging their catfish and other aquaculture crops. This assistance could include providing advice, information,
recommendations, and materials (and in some cases the necessary equipment) to the producer, farmer, or rancher
to resolve the wildlife-caused damage themselves. APHIS maintains specially trained staff around the nation to
provide direct control assistance, which can be necessary when the problem cannot be resolved through technical
assistance alone. APHIS implements integrated approaches, consisting of multiple and varied methods, to protect
resources from wildlife damage.
APHIS’ wildlife disease biologists provide technical assistance, conduct surveillance, and actively assist in the
monitoring of 30 wildlife diseases, pathogens, and syndromes, as well as collaborate with domestic and
international academic and research institutions regarding wildlife disease surveillance. Ongoing surveillance of
avian influenza in wild bird populations and diseases in feral swine is critical to manage and determine threats to
the U.S. poultry and swine industries. Wildlife disease biologists also serve as multi-hazard first responders,
providing support on foreign animal disease introductions (e.g., virulent Newcastle disease, avian influenza) and
natural disasters (e.g., floods, hurricanes, wildfires). These specialized biologists are an integral part of the
APHIS One Health approach in protecting agricultural animals and preventing future pandemics.
Overall, base funding for the WDM program currently supports salary and benefits, supplies, and equipment, as
well as other normal operating expenses such, ren, security, and travel, to conduct program activities.
a) A decrease of $2,497,000 and 36 FTE for certain wildlife damage management activities.
APHIS conducts activities with appropriated funding as well as funding from Federal, State, and local
cooperators. APHIS responds to requests for assistance from individuals, companies, and other government
agencies when wildlife causes or threatens damage to human health/safety, agriculture, natural resources and
property. A decrease in available funding in 2024 will allow the Agency to continue to provide similar levels
of service, only if cooperators assume a greater share of program costs. Examples of the activities where
cooperators would need to increase their level of financial contribution could include but is not limited to
predation management for livestock such as sheep and cattle from the major predators including coyotes,
cougars, and black bears; blackbird depredation; addressing damage caused by cormorants, pelican, and
other birds; and removal and damage prevention caused by feral swine. APHIS is committed to working
with affected States and localities to provide these services should funding be provided. APHIS would
continue funding for non-lethal livestock-predator conflict deterrence activities at the level provided by
Congress in 2023.
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b) An increase of $3,437,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(19) Wildlife Services Methods Development program: A decrease of $586,000 and 2 FTE ($26,244,000 and 126
FTE available in 2023).
The Wildlife Services Methods Development (WSMD) program conducts research to develop methods to assess,
prevent, and mitigate damage caused by wildlife, including invasive species, on agricultural production and to
detect and prevent wildlife diseases that may impact animal health and agricultural biosecurity. APHIS provides
the only dedicated Federal leadership in developing methods to manage wildlife-related damage programs and to
resolve human-wildlife-agricultural conflicts. As the research unit of WS, the National Wildlife Research Center
(NWRC) is tasked with developing new wildlife damage management methods for WS’ Operational employees
and others to use. Annually, the NWRC collaborates with hundreds of different agencies, universities, private
companies, and non-governmental organizations.
Many methods that Federal, State, and private sector wildlife professionals use today stem from APHIS’ research
on integrated wildlife damage control approaches. Examples of methods developed include a potential new
toxicant and delivery system for managing feral swine populations; a repellent application for blackbirds that
cause extensive crop damage and lower yields at harvest for sunflower growers; and adaptation of effective
methods for managing wolf and coyote predation. Each of these methods has enabled APHIS to reduce damage
to property, livestock, agriculture, human health and safety, and/or native wildlife and ecosystems.
Additionally, the WSMD program registers products that enable the private sector to further manage human-
wildlife conflicts. For example, the program recently patented a new vehicle-based lighting system to reduce
deer-vehicle collisions during low light conditions. In partnership with the private sector, this technology will
reduce wildlife deaths and increase driver safety on roads. The program also explores ways to reduce the spread
and transmission of zoonotic diseases and develops disease surveillance and diagnostic methods.
These methods are essential to cooperators and preserve businesses and regional employment opportunities. In
2024, the WSMD program will continue to serve as an international leader in research to reduce wildlife damage,
including the development of non-lethal control methods.
Overall, base funding for the WSMD program currently supports salary and benefits, contracts, and cooperative
agreements, as well as other normal operating expenses such as, supplies, equipment, travel, and rent to conduct
program activities.
a) A decrease of $1,300,000 and 2 FTE for one-time aircraft improvements.
In 2023, APHIS received six helicopters through the GSA Exchange/Sale Program that were deemed no
longer suitable for their original intended purpose, however, remain functional for other uses. The
Exchange/Sale Program allowed the U.S. Government to divest the fleet efficiently and eliminate
unnecessary storage and divestment costs. The available fleet were demilitarized, civil certified commercial
aircraft, with noted significant battle damage repair required. In 2023, Congress provided additional funding
to support costs associated with repairs and specific Agency modifications to the helicopters. The Agency
continues to review the safety of all remaining aircraft. APHIS routinely operates in high mountainous areas
which require specific aircraft and training to ensure the safety of the pilot and other on-board operators. As
the remaining aircraft fleet ages, APHIS will explore additional needs to ensure appropriate fleet
management and the safety of Agency employees.
b) An increase of $714,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
An increase of $4,893,000 and 17 FTE for Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response – Regulatory Services
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(20) Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement program: An increase of $668,000 ($18,722,000 and 120
FTE available in 2023).
The Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement (APHRE) program provides investigative, enforcement,
and regulatory support services to the Agency’s four regulatory programs and Agricultural Quarantine Inspection
activities carried out through the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection. APHRE
investigates alleged violations of Federal laws under its jurisdiction and pursues appropriate enforcement actions
through administrative, civil, or criminal procedures.
The APHRE program ensures compliance through comprehensive investigations, sound enforcement actions, and
strong educational efforts. The program uses monetary penalties and alternative enforcement actions, including
non-monetary settlement agreements, and works with USDA’s Office of Inspector General and Office of the
General Counsel, and/or the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue administrative, civil, or criminal action, as
appropriate, in response to alleged violations of APHIS-administered laws. Program activities serve to deter
individuals and companies from engaging in acts to cause extensive economic damage and/or excessive expenses
related to eradication or mitigation efforts designed to protect the American agriculture system.
Overall, base funding for the APHRE program supports salaries and benefits, equipment, contracts, as well as
other normal operating expenses including travel, supplies, printing, rent, and utilities to conduct program
activities.
a) An increase of $668,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the 2024
5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(21) Biotechnology Regulatory Services: An increase of $4,225,000 and 17 FTE ($19,691,000 and 93 FTE
available in 2023).
Innovative biotechnology products can help promote more efficient use of resources, mitigate and adapt to
climate change, and address growing environmental and food security challenges facing the United States and
the world. Developers are using genetic engineering to produce new plants and organisms that help ameliorate
direct effects of climate change (like heat, drought, and salt tolerance) and indirect effects resulting from spread
and damage by plant pests and pathogens and reduce the use of pesticides and insecticides. Crops developed
using genetic engineering can also improve food security and nutrition with improved yields and healthier oils,
among others. Before any of these products can be brought to market, it is essential to demonstrate, through
rigorous, scientific review, that they are safe for American agricultural and our natural resources.
APHIS ensures certain organisms developed using genetic engineering will not pose a pest risk to plants when
released into the environment. APHIS’ reviews and regulatory determinations support producers of new and
innovative products in their efforts to enter commerce and the worldwide marketplace. These controls instill
confidence in the public and in our trading partners that organisms developed using genetic engineering and
produced in the United States are safe and of the highest quality. APHIS ensures that developers, growers, and
others take important steps to prevent unauthorized release and movement of organisms developed using genetic
engineering. APHIS inspects fields, equipment, and other facilities to ensure developers meet the permit
conditions outlined in authorizations allowing field trials and movement of organisms developed using genetic
engineering.
APHIS takes a coordinated and collaborative approach to ensure the safe development of products produced
using genetic engineering. This includes working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and
Drug Administration, consistent with the principles of the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of
Biotechnology; and partnering with the National Plant Board to allow States to participate in the review of
permit conditions for authorized field trails and movement. APHIS also shares information with international
partners to enhance the harmonization of regulatory approaches for the safe use of organisms developed using
genetic engineering; and to provide capacity building assistance to developing countries for the regulation of
organisms developed using genetic engineering. For example, while implementing the revised plant regulations,
APHIS engaged in discussions with Canada, Korea, and the United Kingdom to promote risk and science-based
oversight for agriculture biotechnology products, with a goal of advancing global harmonization in product
reviews and, ultimately, facilitating market access for U.S. developers and producers. APHIS also shared
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scientific risk assessment approaches with countries contemplating legislation and regulatory changes in
economies in South America, Asia, and Africa, building cohesion for trade and ensuring safety of plant products.
Overall, base funding for the Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) program currently supports salaries and
benefits, contracts, and agreements, as well as other normal operating costs, such as travel, equipment, and
supplies to conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $3,680,000 and 17 FTE for the Biotechnology Regulatory Services.
Over the past decade, U.S. livestock and poultry industries have seen significant advances in biotechnologies
— including genome editing — used to improve agricultural animals. Existing regulations, however, have
limited provisions for addressing animals or livestock pests that have been modified or developed using
genetic engineering, or the food or other products derived from such animals. In 2024, USDA seeks to
establish technical and scientific services to support the oversight of certain animals intended for agricultural
purposes that are modified or developed using genetic engineering. The Agency would work to develop a
risk- science-based framework to support the review of modified, farm-raised animals to evaluate animal
and herd health, which would include a safety review that covers molecular characterization, animal health
(including noninfectious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases), evaluation of animal health claims or
modifications that could adversely impact animal health, environmental factors, food safety evaluation of
any expressed substance (including allergenicity and compositional analyses of key components), and food
storage and processing.
In 2024, APHIS would use available funding to hire the technical and scientific staff necessary to support
the oversight of certain animals intended for agricultural purposes that are modified or developed using
genetic engineering. The Agency will seek to hire individuals with livestock, wildlife, and aquaculture
expertise, as well as individuals at the forefront of biotechnology innovation. APHIS will continue to work
collaboratively with other entities, as needed, to support the USDA’s mission to protect plant, animal and
public health.
b) An increase of $545,000 for 2024 Pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
An increase of $7,176,000 and 5 FTE for Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response – Emergency
Management
(22) Civilian Climate Corps: An increase of $6,016,000 and 5 FTE ($0 and 0 FTE available in 2023).
Climate change has allowed invasive plants, pests, and diseases to move around the world and become
established in new areas more easily. The speed at which pests and disease spread to new areas that previously
may not have been hospitable to them is unprecedented in human history. Effects have included increased
wildfires caused by establishment of invasive plants that are more fire-prone, as well as crop losses caused by
insects arriving in the United States and becoming established further north than believed possible because of
higher-than-average temperatures. Additionally, some methods to fight invasive species compound the impacts
because they themselves—such as pesticides—may have their own impacts on climate.
Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, signed on January 27, 2021, calls for
the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps Initiative to put a new generation of Americans to work conserving
and restoring public lands and waters, increasing reforestation, increasing carbon sequestration in the agricultural
sector, protecting biodiversity, improving access to recreation, and addressing the changing climate.
a) An increase of $6,016,000 and 5 FTE for the Civilian Climate Corps.
APHIS will lead coordination between Federal agencies and the Civilian Climate Corps on issues related to
invasive species control and climate change. APHIS will work with the Corps and engage in identifying
emerging invasive species threats, such as pests and diseases that climate change has made more likely to
arrive and become established in the United States or regional areas, and which could have deleterious
effects. APHIS will continue to expand efforts to develop and implement new surveillance methods to more
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quickly detect incursions of invasive pests as well as develop new mitigation methods to address those
already present and causing economic and environmental damages.
(23) Contingency Fund: An increase of $29,000 ($514,000 and 5 FTE available in 2023).
The APHIS Contingency Fund is the Agency’s resource to immediately implement short-term, coordinated,
emergency activities that are relatively small in scale and not otherwise supported by the Agency’s other
appropriated commodity line items. APHIS uses this fund to respond to small, isolated pest and disease
outbreaks before they can spread and cause significant economic and financial damage to producers across the
United States. Specific examples include addressing outbreaks of the European grapevine moth in California,
rabies in the Eastern United States and Texas, contagious equine metritis in Kentucky and other States, giant
African land snail in Florida, feral swine in New Mexico, cattle fever ticks in Texas, and grasshopper and
Mormon crickets in the Western United States.
By allowing APHIS programs to promptly address small-scale outbreaks, the Agency decreases the likelihood
of pest and disease spread that could cripple otherwise healthy agricultural production systems and export
markets.
Overall, base funding for the program supports salaries and benefits, equipment, contracts, and agreements, as
well as other normal operating costs, such as travel and supplies to conduct program activities.
a) An increase of $29,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(24) Emergency Preparedness and Response program: An increase of $1,131,000 ($44,067,000 and 197 FTE
available in 2023).
The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) program improves APHIS’ capability to prevent, prepare for,
respond to, and recover from animal health emergencies. This program’s goal is to respond to animal health
events within 24 hours from the time APHIS determines that a Federal emergency response is needed to manage
an agricultural outbreak. It develops strategies, policies, and procedures for incident management and response
coordination that meet national and international standards. The program participates in joint Federal, State, and
local animal health and all-hazards exercises to improve response capabilities. In addition, this program works
with major commodity groups to ensure the continuous movement of livestock products during animal health
emergencies. The EPR program funds activities that enable APHIS to achieve a high state of readiness and be
able to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies, thus lessening the impact of those events on producers,
consumers, taxpayers, and the economy. Also, through this program, APHIS and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) jointly manage the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP), which oversees the possession,
use, and transfer of biological select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public,
animal, or plant health, or to animal or plant products.
The EPR program provides national leadership and regional coordinators in the 10 Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) regions for Emergency Support Function #11: Agriculture and Natural Resources
(ESF #11). These coordinators work with local, State, Tribal, Territorial, Insular Area Governments, and other
Federal agencies to prepare for and respond to emergency incidents and disasters. In addition, APHIS provides
support to FEMA for the care of pets and service animals during disasters. The EPR program also maintains
Emergency Qualifications System dispatchers, who coordinate the delivery of emergency resources, as well as
the APHIS security coordinator program and the Voluntary Emergency Ready Response Corps program,
continuity planning, and Geographic Information System capability during incidents. The program also
participates in Agency response efforts for animal diseases, natural disasters, hazardous spills, and wildfires.
APHIS’ National Preparedness and Incident Coordination Center (NPIC) develops animal health emergency
management guidelines to protect U.S. animal agriculture through collaborative, science- and risk-based
strategies. These guidelines are based on the National Incident Management System and National Response
Framework. The NPIC National Training and Exercise Program (NTEP) improves preparedness, mitigation, and
response to animal disease emergencies and is informed by national priorities of APHIS’ stakeholders. It creates
dynamic, real-world learning scenarios to build response capabilities of emergency responders and maintain the
Agency’s response readiness. In 2022, the NTEP relied on more than 200 volunteers working more than 5,000
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support hours on 49 simulated animal disease events. APHIS sustains its animal health readiness capacity by
maintaining 5 Incident Management Teams of approximately 30 volunteer first-responders per team. One of
these teams is ready to deploy anywhere, at any time, to respond rapidly to animal health disease events in
support of incident management.
APHIS and the CDC jointly administer the select agents and toxins regulations as the FSAP. Any individual or
entity possessing, using, or transferring select agents or toxins must register with APHIS if the agent affects plant
or animal health or the CDC if it affects human health. Facilities must meet biosafety requirements to ensure the
safety and security of select agents. APHIS and CDC inspect facilities that possess, use, or transfer select agents
to ensure regulatory compliance. APHIS’ Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins (DASAT) ensures
that registered facilities promptly address non-compliances, and DSAT takes corrective actions if necessary.
DASAT also works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which conducts Security Risk Assessments for the
program, to evaluate individuals requesting access to select agents and toxins. In addition, FSAP is coordinating
with representatives from APHIS and the Agricultural Research Service overseeing the stand-up of the National
Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Kansas to provide guidance on the select agent registration process. DASAT
also supports entities during hazardous events to ensure the safety and security of select agents and toxins.
a) An increase of $1,131,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
An increase of $1,878,000 and a decrease of 3 FTE for Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance
(25) Agriculture Import/Export: A decrease of $1,526,000 and 3 FTE ($19,292,000 and 84 FTE available in
2023).
APHIS works with other Federal agencies, States, foreign governments, industry, and academia to protect U.S.
agriculture while facilitating the safe trade of animals and animal products. APHIS’ animal health experts ensure
that U.S. import requirements safeguard U.S. livestock health, and they negotiate requirements for the worldwide
export of U.S. animals and animal products. These requirements are based on international standards, sound
scientific principles, and fair-trading practices for animals and animal products. In addition, APHIS sets
quarantine, testing, and other requirements under which animals and animal products can be imported or
exported. The requirements help ensure that global markets can be accessed, expanded, or maintained with little
or no risk to U.S. animal production and human health. APHIS also outlines activities to support aquatic
livestock imports and exports through the development of the Aquaculture Business Plan and the National
Aquaculture Health Protection and Inspection Act.
In addition, APHIS conducts activities related to the Lacey Act, which prohibits the importation of any plants,
with limited exceptions, that are taken or traded in violation of domestic or international laws. The Act requires a
declaration for imported shipments of most plants or plant products. A 2016 study by the United Nations
Environmental Programme and Interpol estimated the value of illegal logging, including processing, to be
between $50 to $152 billion dollars, or 10 to 30 percent of the global wood trade. The Lacey Act, as amended, is
designed to help combat illegal logging by encouraging importers to research their supply chains and be aware of
the laws governing products they purchase in other countries. APHIS’ role is to evaluate and implement
regulations, provide guidance to importers regarding the declaration, perform compliance checks, provide
enforcement agencies with declaration information to assist their investigations, and maintain declaration
records.
Imports
APHIS evaluates the animal health status of regions that wish to export animals and/or animal products to the
United States. This evaluation process minimizes the risk of introducing animal diseases through importation and
aligns with international trade requirements. In 2022, APHIS completed several evaluations and published
regulatory actions based on those evaluations in the Federal Register. These include notices to recognize Bolivia
and Ireland as negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
APHIS also conducts site visits to confirm that a regions’ surveillance, prevention, and control measures are
sufficient to minimize the likelihood of an introduction of foreign animal diseases into the United States. APHIS
resumed site visits in 2022 that were delayed or halted in the previous 2 years due to COVID-19 travel
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restrictions. These included Mexico for tuberculosis, Costa Rica for classical swine fever, Colombia for foot and
mouth disease, and Panama and Brazil for Newcastle disease. The Agency continues to ensure that import
regulations are effective and science-based and works with U.S. businesses and importers to facilitate safe trade.
Exports
To open, re-open, and maintain U.S. access to worldwide export markets, APHIS negotiates science-based
conditions with trading partners for various commodities to facilitate trade. In 2022, APHIS negotiated 17 export
protocols for animal products (7 new or reopened markets, 4 retained markets, 5 expanded markets, and 1 re-
opened market). Additionally, APHIS opened, expanded retained, or re-opened 118 live animal export markets.
APHIS endorses export certificates for live animals and inedible animal-origin products, documenting the animal
health status and facilitating export to all markets. In 2022, the Agency endorsed more than 329,344 export
health certificates for animal products, livestock, poultry, germplasm, and pets. APHIS continued to increase the
number of animal health export certificates issued electronically by expanding the system capabilities for the
Agency’s online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). VEHCS capabilities include digital
signature capabilities, multiple user roles, a certificate upload feature, certificate re-issuance, and inclusion of
supporting documents and payment information. APHIS continued to expand the number of countries and
commodities for which electronic certification is available. APHIS digital endorsement for live animal export
certificates is now accepted by 39 countries.
Lacey Act
In 2022, APHIS received nearly 1.2 million Lacey Act declarations electronically or on paper (the vast majority
were received electronically through the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection’s
Automated Cargo Environment system). Since implementing the 2008 amendments to the Lacey Act, APHIS has
added products to the declaration requirement/enforcement schedule in phases. On October 1, 2021, APHIS
implemented phase six, which expanded the Lacey Act declaration requirement to items such as new wooden
pallets and containers, essential oils, and certain musical instruments made of wood, among other items. APHIS
is beginning outreach for the next implementation phase (phase seven), which will cover all remaining non-
composite wood products for which declarations are not already required. APHIS works with CBP’s Regulatory
Audit and Office of Trade to implement compliance surveys for Lacey Act declarations and requirements. In
2022, APHIS and its Federal partners (including other USDA agencies, CBP, U.S. Department of Justice, and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) continued to expand and improve Lacey Act compliance programs by
developing plans for and conducting documentation reviews of importers, continuing development of wood
identification technologies and considering alternatives to seizing and forfeiting shipments due to the time and
cost involved.
Overall, base funding for the Agriculture Import/Export program currently supports salaries and benefits of
personnel, contracts, and agreements, as well as other normal operating costs such as travel, supplies, rent, and
utilities to support program activities.
a) A decrease of $1,000,000 and 3 FTE for Lacey Act activities.
APHIS continues to enforce the Lacey Act to ensure imported plants and plant products comply with
domestic and international laws. The Act requires a declaration for imported shipments of most plants or
plant products. APHIS established the declaration requirement through rulemaking and began phasing it in
for products covered by specific harmonized tariff schedule (HTS) codes over time, starting with raw wood
and progressing to further refined products. The Agency is preparing to expand the declaration requirement
to additional products and will conduct outreach to affected industries to allow them to prepare. The 2023
Appropriations Act, Consolidated, provided an increase for Lacey Act activities. APHIS will use the funding
to support the expansion of the declaration requirement and prepare for the significant increase in
declarations that it will receive. APHIS proposes a decrease of $1 million following the completion of the
expanded outreach and system enhancements.
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b) A decrease of $1 million for live dog import oversight.
The 2023 Appropriations Act, Consolidated, provided $1 million in funding for the oversight of live dog
imports. APHIS is using the funding received in 2023 to evaluate interagency coordination efforts and
protocols when screening dogs imported to the United States. The 2024 President’s Budget proposes a
decrease following the completion of these efforts.
c) An increase of $474,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(26) Overseas Technical and Trade Operations program: An increase of $3,404,000 ($25,572,000 and 57 FTE
available in 2023).
APHIS helps U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers export their products to other countries by resolving
concerns over animal and plant health issues that affect trade in agricultural products. Exports are crucial to
economic viability of U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers. According to USDA’s Economic Research Service,
the United States exports 20 percent of its agricultural production. However, agricultural trade is subject to costly
disruptions related to animal and plant health issues. APHIS works to continually support economic
opportunities by keeping markets open for U.S. agricultural products. Working with other Federal partners, such
as the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, APHIS provides the
technical expertise to successfully address animal and plant health regulatory issues associated with trade
negotiations for new markets and to reopen markets when they are closed or threatened due to pest or disease
issues. Highlights of 2022 successes include: bovine meat and bone meal to Peru worth an estimated $5 million
per year; wheat to Fiji worth an estimated $3 million per year; and live sheep and goats to Senegal worth an
estimated $800,000 per year (values based on industry and APHIS analysis).
In addressing animal and plant health trade issues, APHIS uses its strong scientific base and team of technical
experts located in the United States and abroad to advocate on behalf of U.S. agriculture. This line item supports
APHIS’ overseas presence in 28 countries, through which APHIS develops and fosters working relationships
with its animal and plant health counterparts. These relationships allow APHIS to advance trade priorities and
provide in-country support to resolve issues with shipments of U.S. agricultural goods held up in foreign ports of
entry. Even for markets that are open to U.S. agricultural products, APHIS must continually address issues to
keep trade flowing smoothly. APHIS works with foreign counterparts to clarify or streamline certification
requirements, making it easier and less costly for U.S. exporters to move their products overseas. When
shipments are held up at foreign ports, APHIS works with its counterparts to resolve the issues and secure the
release of the shipments. In 2022, APHIS successfully secured the release of 261 shipments worth approximately
$94 million.
APHIS overseas officials are veterinarians and plant scientists who are knowledgeable about the strengths and
weakness of countries’ animal and plant health programs and can aid to identify and develop programs that build
technical and regulatory capacity in countries and the region. APHIS offers a range of sophisticated technical
courses such as basic epidemiology, risk assessment, risk based sampling, and transboundary animal diseases,
often in partnership with other Federal agencies including USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S.
Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of State. These programs are useful in enhancing our bilateral
relationships, encouraging regional dialogue, and promoting a coordinated regional response to pest or disease
outbreaks. APHIS also fosters a successful trading environment for U.S. exports by working to ensure that the
same rules apply to countries around the world through international standard setting. APHIS emphasizes the use
of scientific principles as a basis for international trade decisions and works with international standard setting
bodies such as the World Organisation for Animal Health and the International Plant Protection Convention. By
supporting scientific decision making internationally and following international standards when considering
what can be imported into the United States, APHIS encourages trading partners to do so as well, helping
provide a level playing field for U.S. agricultural exports.
Agricultural trade is essential for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers, and APHIS’ technical and regulatory
trade activities support their export opportunities. In 2024, APHIS will continue to support international trade
opportunities for America’s animal and plant products while ensuring that U.S. agriculture is safe from pests and
diseases.
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Overall, base funding for the Overseas Technical and Trade Operations program currently supports salaries and
benefits of personnel, contracts, and agreements, and travel, as well as other normal operating costs such as
supplies, rent, and utilities to support program activities.
a) An increase of $3,100,000 for costs at overseas posts.
APHIS is requesting funding to cover the anticipated increases in International Cooperative Administrative
Support Services (ICASS) costs charged by the U.S. State Department to provide shared administrative
services at overseas locations. Under ICASS regulations, participating agencies are required to pay their
portion of costs provided for continuous administrative support services for overseas offices. These
projected costs are based on the State Department’s global analysis which estimates growth in overseas
wage increases, overseas price inflation and cost relocation of strategic activities into the ICASS platform.
The platform includes the Foreign Service National Separation Liability Trust Fund, enhancements to the
myServices software platform and conversion of the Information Management positions to ICASS.
This request also supports the increases for locally employed staff salaries and benefits, which are tied to
local laws in other countries. The Department of State continues to adjust its compensation plans for
overseas staff, and APHIS must support these increased compensation costs for all locally employed staff in
2024.
Finally, this request supports the necessary updates to the APHIS Mexico security and HR to help mitigate
the increasing levels of danger posed to APHIS field personnel by criminal elements in Mexico.
b) An increase of $304,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
A decrease of $2,795,000 and 41 FTE for Animal Welfare
(27) A
nimal Welfare program: A decrease of $1,865,000 and 32 FTE ($37,506,000 and 260 FTE available in
2023).
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported
commercially, or exhibited to the public receive Federal standards of care and treatment. APHIS’ Animal
Welfare Program ensures the humane care and treatment of animals covered by the AWA through inspection,
learning opportunities, and enforcement actions. Since the AWA became law in 1966, APHIS has protected
millions of regulated animals used in research, exhibition, and the pet trade as well as those transported in
commerce.
Before issuing a license, APHIS works closely with potential licensees to ensure they understand the
requirements of the AWA regulations and standards and will be able to maintain compliance after obtaining a
license from the Agency. After obtaining a license or registration, the Agency determines on-going
compliance by conducting unannounced inspections. During these inspections, APHIS officials examine and
inspect all areas of animal care and treatment covered under the AWA. The Agency reviews the animals,
premises, facilities, husbandry practices, program of veterinary care, records, and animal handling procedures.
APHIS confirms that the animals receive adequate housing, transport, veterinary care, and meet husbandry
standards as described in the AWA.
Whenever possible, APHIS takes a coordinated and collaborative approach to improve the welfare of animals.
Using non-regulatory methods such as education, training, and outreach to stakeholders to convey critical and
current animal welfare information, APHIS has been able to reduce inspection frequencies (while staying
within legal requirements) for facilities that have implemented strong animal welfare programs and routinely
demonstrate substantial compliance during unannounced inspections. This allows the Agency to remain
focused on addressing the egregious alleged violators of the AWA, representing approximately four percent of
all licensees/registrants.
When APHIS inspectors discover conditions or records that are noncompliant with AWA regulations, the
Agency may establish a deadline for corrective action and increase frequency of unannounced inspections to
determine whether the facility made the necessary modifications. Continued, serious noncompliance may
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warrant an investigation that can result in sanctions ranging from monetary penalties to suspension or
revocation of the facility’s license, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The welfare of animals
nationwide is subject to significant media attention and passionate public engagement. The American public
holds APHIS accountable for ensuring all regulated animals are healthy and treated humanely. Without this
program, the Agency would be unable to enforce the AWA, and the health and welfare of millions of animals
would be severely compromised.
Overall, base funding for the Animal Welfare program currently supports salaries and benefits of personnel
and travel, as well as other normal operating costs such as contracts, supplies, and equipment to support
program activities.
a) A decrease of $3,200,000 and 32 FTE for inspection of regulated facilities.
In 2024, APHIS proposes to reduce available funding for the Animal Welfare program to support cost
savings efforts. A significant portion of the program’s operating costs are associated with salaries, benefits,
and travel. Therefore, the program will fill only the highest priority vacancies. APHIS will reduce 26 FTEs
through the elimination of unfilled positions and attrition.
Licensed and registered facilities continue to maintain a high compliance with the AWA. For example, in
2022, 90 percent of all licensed facilities inspected were found to be in substantial compliance with the
AWA. At the proposed funding level, APHIS would conduct between 3 to 5 percent fewer inspections than
the prior year. The Agency will continue to prioritize inspection through risk-based determination and seek
opportunities to gain efficiencies. We assume that regulated entities would continue to maintain high levels
of compliance, with the possibility of approximately 2-3 percent of facilities falling out to compliance due to
decreased inspection and oversight activities.
b) An increase of $1,335,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(28) Horse Protection program: A decrease of $930,000 and 9 FTE ($4,096,000 and 21 FTE available in 2023).
APHIS’ Horse Protection program strives to eliminate the cruel and inhumane practice of soring, which involves
applying caustic chemicals and/or mechanical devices to a horse’s pasterns, causing the horse to experience pain
or distress while walking or moving. Soring changes the gait of a horse so that the animal steps higher, allowing
its rider to gain a competitive edge at horse events. APHIS has the Federal responsibility to uphold the Horse
Protection Act (HPA), which prohibits sore horses from being shown, sold, or transported.
There are an estimated 200,000 Tennessee Walking and Racking Horses in the United States, with potential
show winnings reaching as high as $2.5 million. The management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and
auctions have statutory responsibility under the HPA to prevent unfair competition and must identify and
disqualify sored horses prior to participating in HPA-covered events. USDA-certified horse industry
organizations train and license third party inspectors, known as Designated Qualified Persons (DQPs). DQPs
conduct horse inspections at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions affiliated with these organizations.
APHIS attends a select number of HPA-covered events each year to observe DQP performance and inspect
horses for HPA compliance. APHIS’ presence at horse show events serves as a deterrent; without this program,
the Agency would expect to see an increase in the abusive practice of soring. In 2022, APHIS expanded the
available technology support services by adding additional thermography and iris scanning devices.
Thermographic pictures of an animal can reveal areas that are excessively warm or cool—both indicating
abnormalities and the need for closer evaluation. Iris scanning allows inspectors to verify the identity of a horse,
similar to a fingerprint. The Agency will continue to incorporate this technology during the inspection process in
2024.
Overall, base funding for the Horse Protection program currently supports salaries and benefits of personnel, and
travel, as well as other normal operating expenses such as necessary contracts, agreements, and equipment for
completing programmatic functions.
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a) A decrease of $1,000,000 and 9 FTE for enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA).
APHIS’ Horse Protection program strives to eliminate the cruel and inhumane practice of soring, which
involves applying caustic chemicals and/or mechanical devices to a horse’s pasterns, causing the horse to
experience pain or distress while walking or moving. Soring changes the gait of a horse so that the animal
steps higher, allowing its rider to gain a competitive edge at horse events. The increase in funding provided
in 2023 has allowed the Agency to significantly enhance attendance at HPA regulated shows, an estimated
30 percent increase from 2022. Further, APHIS used the additional funding to invest in critical equipment
that allows the Agency to implement science-based inspection tools and to better enforce the HPA. The
proposed decrease in funding for 2024 will support cost-saving efforts, while allowing the Agency to
maintain oversight at regulated horse events similar to the 2022 level.
b) An increase of $70,000 for 2024 pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
An increase of $3,223,000 for Agency Wide Programs
(29) APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure: An increase of $3,200,000 ($4,251,000 available in 2023).
The APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure (AITI) program provides funding for the hardware, software
(including licensing and support costs), and telecommunications infrastructure that gives the agency automation
tools, secure Internet access, and access to mission-critical programs and applications. Funding for this program
supports the stable and secure information infrastructure for those mission-critical requirements and the day-to-
day business of APHIS, to include interactions with the public, emergency services, and scientific operations.
The AITI priorities are to continually improve sharing of information across the Agency and Federal partners;
improve coordination and accessibility of information by the public and other stakeholders; sustain automated
processes and electronic resources available to enable APHIS employees to provide day-to-day services; support
automation and data needed to meet emergency response requirements; and improve APHIS’ cyber-security
posture.
APHIS works with USDA’s Office of the Chief Information Officer to support the program goals and manage
information technology in a manner consistent with both USDA and Federal requirements. APHIS also works
with other Federal partners, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection
and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that
AITI provides interoperability and required availability for partner agencies, as needed for program delivery.
In support of the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) and the USDA Data
Center Optimization Initiative, APHIS completed migration of all business applications from on-site data centers
to remote cloud services as of April 2019. This migration decreased the Agency’s carbon footprint by using a
more energy efficient infrastructure, improved data management, increased the speed of application
development, and improved cost control measures.
APHIS continues to review the security posture for the APHIS Enterprise Infrastructure workstations, servers,
network components, and major applications on an annual basis to ensure all systems are kept current with the
latest security patches and system security configurations. In 2022 and 2023, the AITI program maintained the
current version of National Institute of Standards and Technology and Federal Information Security Management
Act testing standards and supported audits and inspections on all High Value Assets (HVA) that dramatically
improved the agency’s security posture by reducing vulnerabilities. In addition, the APHIS IT security
monitoring system continues to track and mitigate malicious attempt of intrusion by foreign actors as well as the
improper use of personally identifiable information data stored on APHIS systems, helping to protect
confidential information that could potentially identify a specific individual. In addition to protecting our systems
from malicious access, accessibility to IT tools is vital to the operations of the Agency, thus the AITI program
helps to sustain important identity management services.
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In 2024, AITI will continue to maintain its 99.99 percent availability for its key computing systems ensuring
increased access to the public and other stakeholders. In addition, AITI will continue to improve its cybersecurity
posture, enhance the customer experience by supporting modernization of critical systems, and support data
management standards that improve our ability to more rapidly detect and respond to animal and plant
emergencies working together with other Federal and Industry partners.
Overall, AITI expenditures fund day-to-day operations for the Agency’s IT infrastructure, including software
license renewals and support, as well as other normal operating costs, such as supplies and equipment.
a) An increase of $1,200,000, to cover costs to maintain remote cloud storage.
In 2019, the Agency migrated to remote cloud services to maintain compliance with FITARA and the USDA
Data Center Optimization Initiative. The costs associated with the cloud services are anticipated to increase
and will need to be covered. The additional funding is needed to ensure the Agency’s continued use of
remote cloud storage, which supports APHIS’ operational and program data systems, and helps reduce the
Agency’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities. This line item has not received an increase in more than a decade,
and the additional funds would ensure operations can continue without further impact to mission critical
programs.
b) An increase of $2,000,000, to cover necessary security monitoring, tools, and services.
In 2020, a serious vulnerability in a tool known as SolarWinds impacted the entire Federal Government. 90
percent of our infrastructure utilized SolarWinds to monitor and sustain infrastructure components. In
phasing out SolarWinds, the AITI Program invested in more advanced security tools and services that were
less susceptible to the exploit that many Federal Agencies were already experiencing. A success story for the
agency, the AITI program was able to stave off security incidents through pro-active monitoring, enhanced
application controls and access management, and increased level of expertise protecting critical assets that
among its many needs is used to sustain national animal and plant emergencies as well as one-health
initiatives. This increased funding will ensure the program’s ability to continue to secure its infrastructure,
deploy controlled data sharing tools to facilitate electronic exchange with Federal partners, and improve
access management compliant with two-factor authentication for the public and stakeholders.
(30) Physical Operational Security program: An increase of $23,000 ($5,182,000 and 4 FTE available in 2023).
APHIS oversees and implements precautionary measures to ensure continued, efficient mission operations, and
protection from disruption, degradation, or destruction of its facilities through the Physical and Operational
Security (POS) program. The program provides year-round security measures, such as physical security
upgrades, alarms, badging and identification systems, guard services, security assessments, safety and risk
assessments, workplace violence training, and investigations of both internal and external threats. These
measures protect APHIS employees, as well as visitors and stakeholders from harm, acts of terrorism, and
violence. In addition, this program supports part of USDA’s contribution to the U.S. Department of State’s
continuing implementation of the Capital Security Cost Sharing program, which provides safe and secure
workplaces for all government employees located overseas.
APHIS provides numerous types of security training, using a variety of formats. This includes providing training
to more than 1,650 agency employees annually, including seminars relating to active shooter response,
situational awareness, scenario-based role playing, illegal drugs, self-defense, terrorism, local crime trends, and
travel safety. In addition, the program also provides workplace violence training seminars and multiple security
briefings for employees who work along the border or in foreign countries. To enhance preparedness and
response, APHIS continues its required on-line and classroom based active shooter training for all employees and
live active shooter training exercises at Agency offices across the United States. This scenario-based training
provides a dynamic, interactive exercise for APHIS personnel, and utilizes the participation of local law
enforcement, fire, and emergency medical service personnel. The APHIS active shooter training plan and
materials are evaluated by 40 law enforcement agencies, as well as one of the nation’s leading active shooter
private consulting firms.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-65
APHIS investigates and assesses all reported internal and external threats directed at Agency facilities, programs,
and personnel. These threats include, but are not limited to, death threats, terrorist threats, and assaults. APHIS
also works to ensure employee safety in the same manner, at or near the Mexican border, and at APHIS offices in
Mexico, Panama, and Guatemala. Specifically, near the Mexican border, the program investigates threats and
responds to requests for protection for APHIS employees, such as veterinarians and inspectors, who enforce
regulations in challenging environments.
Additionally, APHIS ensures the safety of its employees who enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse
Protection Act (HPA). APHIS security specialists investigate threats and respond to requests for protection
throughout the country for APHIS veterinarians and inspectors who are enforcing regulations in difficult
situations. Program personnel also worked across the Agency to develop standard operating procedures for
security support for AWA and HPA inspections and investigations.
The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 and Interagency Security Committee (ISC) directives create
the standard for secure and reliable forms of identification for facility and network access and compliance
regarding physical security at Federal facilities. In support of this standard, APHIS completes physical security
assessments and reevaluates previous facility assessments using the updated ISC criteria and USDA reporting
format. In addition, the program is responsible for issuing, activating, or updating new or renewed personal
identification verification cards to approximately 8,900 APHIS, USDA and other federal personnel and
contractors annually.
APHIS also works with other USDA agencies, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, the U.S. Department of State, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the appropriate
organization takes the lead, contributes to program costs, and integrates security where employees are co-located
overseas. APHIS maintains a presence overseas to facilitate agricultural trade and monitor pest and disease
threats. The Security Embassy Construction Counterterrorism Act’s Capital Security Cost Sharing Program
requires the Agency to help fund the construction of new Embassy compounds based on the number of
authorized positions. In 2023, the program will continue to work with the U.S. Department of State to establish a
security baseline for APHIS facilities overseas and ensure that mission operations are protected from disruption
and degradation.
Overall, base funding for the POS program currently supports contracts, programmatic agreements, and
personnel costs, as well as other normal operating expenses such as travel and supplies. In addition, this program
supports the mandatory cost share with the Department of State for the Capital Security Cost-Sharing program.
a) An increase of $23,000 for 2024 Pay.
This increase will support the annualization of the 2023 4.6 percent Cost of Living pay increase and the
2024 5.2 percent Cost of Living pay increase.
(31) Rent and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Security Payments: No change ($45,067,000 available
in 2023).
APHIS personnel are in every State working to carry out our mission and the Rent and DHS Security Payments
program assists the Agency in strategically managing the payment portfolio of approximately 220 General
Services Administration (GSA) leases and DHS security payments, as well as other leased, owned, and
agreement funded facilities. For example, the funding for this program ensures that APHIS employees can
effectively and efficiently carry out all mission-related activities, including surveillance for animal and plant
pests and diseases, pest and disease eradication programs, diagnostic and methods development work at
laboratories, animal welfare inspections, and wildlife damage management activities. APHIS continually
identifies opportunities to consolidate, reduce, and/or transform spaces to manage space as effectively and
efficiently as possible. Without funding for rent and security payments, APHIS would have to cover these costs
by reducing program activities, decreasing levels of service, and diverting fiscal resources from other
appropriated line items.
In 2023, the program will continue to ensure mission operations while effectively managing its space portfolio.
Overall, base funding for the program currently maintains rent payments and security agreements in support of
program activities.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-66
(32) Congressionally Directed Spending: A decrease of $9,552,000 ($9,552,000 available in 2023).
The 2023 Appropriations Act, Consolidated, provided APHIS with funding to support nine Congressionally
Directed Spending projects across seven States. Specifically, these projects include monitoring ticks and tick-
borne pathogens in Connecticut; invasive pest management for nursery exports in Hawaii; West Nile virus
research in Louisiana; tick-borne disease prevention in Maine; One Health surveillance, fish-eating bird control,
and wild hog control efforts in Mississippi; enhancing the capacity at the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory; and wild horse management in Nevada.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection
Current legislative authority to be amended: The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade (FACT) Act of 1990
(21 U.S. Code § 136a).
This proposal requests a legislative change in the Appropriation language to provide temporary authority to APHIS to
maintain its Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) user fee account balance in light of recent litigation. This
change will have no new impacts on AQI user fee collection levels; rather, it would allow APHIS to continue
managing the program as it has been before its current authorities were challenged in recent litigation. Long-term
authority will also be requested through other legislation.
Legislative Language Requested:
SEC. XYZ. Notwithstanding 21 U.S.C. § 136a(a)(1)(C) or any other provision of law, the Secretary of
Agriculture is authorized to maintain a reasonable balance in the accounts that incur the costs associated with the
provision of agricultural quarantine and inspection services as provided in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade (FACT) Act of 1990, and may prescribe and collect fees to maintain such a balance for all user fee
types in fiscal year 2024 and thereafter.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-67
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF OBLIGATIONS AND FTE
Table APHIS-16. Discretionary Geographic Breakdown of Obligations and FTE (thousands of dollars, FTE)
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Alabama ...........................
$6,768
27
$7,344
28
$7,618
29
$7,702
29
Alaska ...............................
643
2
992
3
915
4
1,299
4
Arizona .............................
10,657
70
9,631
72
10,472
80
11,005
82
Arkansas ...........................
4,109
25
5,130
26
4,695
26
4,544
24
California ..........................
57,667
104
77,344
112
82,505
129
72,368
128
Colorado ...........................
69,818
304
103,884
354
108,774
428
95,808
423
Connecticut.......................
1,223
6
2,154
6
2,476
7
2,416
7
Delaware...........................
920
5
21,431
12
21,671
12
1,942
6
Florida ..............................
37,940
213
42,932
213
46,345
238
48,045
244
Georgia .............................
6,434
36
10,008
42
10,427
43
10,389
43
Hawaii ..............................
23,318
258
26,578
291
28,568
312
30,791
313
Idaho .................................
7,595
59
8,574
57
9,349
62
9,473
61
Illinois ..............................
3,653
27
4,240
27
4,296
27
4,425
27
Indiana ..............................
4,273
25
10,914
26
11,282
28
5,689
28
Iowa ..................................
73,145
320
158,429
324
161,087
331
87,736
320
Kansas ..............................
3,914
22
6,553
26
6,912
27
6,226
27
Kentucky ..........................
4,689
26
10,310
30
10,562
31
6,516
28
Louisiana ..........................
5,419
26
6,389
29
7,238
32
7,284
31
Maine ................................
1,188
8
1,959
9
4,536
9
4,321
9
Maryland ..........................
274,300
1,026
267,642
718
276,890
884
260,609
899
Massachusetts ...................
19,729
97
15,544
86
16,117
93
16,539
93
Michigan...........................
6,870
47
8,745
48
9,207
52
8,854
52
Minnesota .........................
47,886
188
139,493
188
141,385
224
49,390
194
Mississippi ........................
9,028
40
9,248
41
13,398
48
13,193
44
Missouri ............................
9,533
50
21,163
58
22,114
62
14,167
57
Montana ............................
6,514
39
11,855
39
12,609
43
12,149
41
Nebraska ...........................
3,308
20
23,001
19
23,451
21
3,655
20
Nevada ..............................
2,743
22
3,774
19
4,110
21
4,158
22
New Hampshire ................
16,403
18
17,215
20
18,751
23
19,034
23
New Jersey .......................
4,190
31
4,777
33
5,128
38
5,464
38
New Mexico .....................
4,972
33
5,520
30
5,990
35
6,029
34
New York .........................
33,400
126
33,167
132
34,179
152
33,439
152
North Carolina ..................
44,436
173
47,176
176
49,080
242
45,647
245
North Dakota ....................
2,627
15
7,317
16
7,629
19
3,675
16
Ohio ..................................
17,562
80
24,649
74
25,396
82
19,740
81
Oklahoma .........................
6,187
39
6,646
41
6,593
45
6,685
44
Oregon ..............................
5,186
22
5,713
24
6,165
27
6,348
28
Pennsylvania .....................
12,841
78
55,900
87
57,401
100
18,442
80
Rhode Island .....................
424
1
1,746
8
1,808
9
1,866
9
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-68
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
South Carolina ..................
12,558
31
15,547
38
15,904
40
15,827
40
South Dakota ....................
2,133
15
53,049
17
53,580
19
4,770
18
Tennessee .........................
7,410
36
9,355
43
9,871
50
10,029
50
Texas ................................
69,075
372
66,176
375
70,156
430
63,509
425
Utah ..................................
7,784
42
18,322
55
20,162
61
9,185
48
Vermont ............................
1,056
9
1,528
10
1,590
11
1,687
11
Virginia ............................
4,997
29
11,693
48
12,234
53
12,355
51
Washington.......................
5,648
26
6,314
27
6,717
31
6,304
31
West Virginia ...................
2,685
17
3,041
17
3,213
20
3,240
19
Wisconsin .........................
4,604
23
36,341
27
36,931
30
6,503
27
Wyoming ..........................
4,254
29
5,684
30
6,201
34
6,192
32
U.S. TERRITORIES:
District of Columbia .........
22,564
69
17,880
71
18,587
81
20,050
86
Guam ................................
316
1
614
3
666
3
684
3
Puerto Rico .......................
12,084
104
23,438
147
24,843
168
25,990
168
Virgin Islands ...................
510
1
1,600
4
1,624
5
1,650
5
INTERNATIONAL REGIONS
AFRICA:
Egypt ................................
709
1
906
2
909
2
909
2
South Africa .....................
825
2
574
1
576
1
610
1
Senegal .............................
362
-
289
-
290
-
615
-
ASIA/PACIFIC:
China ................................
1,801
3
1,183
2
1,187
2
1,245
2
Japan .................................
1,757
3
1,622
3
1,627
3
1,692
3
South Korea ......................
480
-
503
-
506
-
537
-
Other .................................
3,955
7
4,070
7
4,083
7
4,276
7
CARIBBEAN:
Dominican Republic .........
1,710
1
70,391
4
70,739
4
70,774
4
Haiti ..................................
-
-
4,850
-
4,874
-
4,874
-
Other .................................
74
-
211
-
212
-
224
-
CENTRAL AMERICA:
Guatemala.........................
21,740
5
24,840
4
24,960
4
24,978
4
Panama .............................
14,731
4
15,824
5
15,898
5
16,196
5
Other .................................
648
-
496
-
498
-
504
-
EUROPE/NEAR EAST:
Austria ..............................
365
-
351
-
353
-
415
-
Belgium ............................
1,718
2
1,701
2
1,708
2
2,125
2
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-69
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Other .................................
986
3
1,438
3
1,442
3
1,528
3
NORTH AMERICA:
Mexico ..............................
7,683
3
8,491
3
8,530
3
9,254
3
SOUTH AMERICA:
Brazil ................................
548
1
657
1
659
1
694
1
Chile .................................
348
-
473
-
475
-
488
-
Other .................................
1,523
2
1,583
2
1,589
2
1,683
2
Obligations .......................
1,071,153
4,548
1,636,121
4,495
1,700,522
5,150
1,298,661
5,057
Lapsing Balances ..............
335
370
835
536
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, EOY ..
697,806
1,034
927,328
879
397,877
766
288,004
702
Total, Available ................
1,769,294
5,952
2,564,284
5,910
2,098,399
5,916
1,586,665
5,759
23-70
Table APHIS-17. Mandatory Geographic Breakdown of Obligations and FTE (thousands of dollars, FTE)
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Alabama ..............................
$1,771
16
$2,194
15
$2,701
17
$653
16
Alaska ..................................
165
-
120
-
120
-
120
-
Arizona ................................
2,277
17
2,560
13
2,998
15
2,729
14
Arkansas ..............................
1,832
8
1,899
10
2,183
10
1,022
8
California .............................
47,811
102
38,876
86
42,542
90
40,292
88
Colorado ..............................
10,992
40
7,315
40
9,890
60
8,620
45
Connecticut..........................
591
4
433
2
446
2
438
2
Delaware..............................
1,023
6
1,571
5
1,596
5
1,581
5
Florida .................................
20,612
163
18,794
132
21,375
145
19,458
137
Georgia ................................
11,064
73
10,960
58
13,026
65
11,147
62
Hawaii .................................
6,427
30
6,621
30
7,116
32
6,637
31
Idaho ....................................
1,649
3
1,053
3
1,069
3
1,060
3
Illinois .................................
1,573
12
2,353
14
2,787
15
2,521
15
Indiana .................................
619
2
931
2
944
2
936
2
Iowa .....................................
7,960
2
9,701
2
11,766
4
8,147
2
Kansas .................................
436
1
392
1
397
1
394
1
Kentucky .............................
599
2
1,004
4
1,018
4
1,009
4
Louisiana .............................
1,271
10
1,512
9
1,666
9
1,101
9
Maine ...................................
394
1
477
1
486
1
481
1
Maryland .............................
90,934
332
79,652
302
94,347
375
87,921
366
Massachusetts ......................
2,562
15
1,551
8
1,743
8
1,625
8
Michigan..............................
1,877
12
2,330
11
2,596
12
2,433
12
Minnesota ............................
12,183
5
5,989
38
9,801
55
9,786
55
Mississippi ...........................
1,334
4
1,266
6
1,364
7
1,001
7
Missouri ...............................
737
6
3,883
7
5,014
7
3,220
7
Montana ...............................
520
2
360
2
368
2
363
2
Nebraska ..............................
241
2
810
4
833
4
819
4
Nevada .................................
458
1
750
1
771
1
758
1
New Hampshire ...................
224
-
332
-
332
-
332
-
New Jersey ..........................
4,767
24
5,851
23
6,518
25
6,109
25
New Mexico ........................
252
2
398
2
417
2
397
2
New York ............................
29,352
42
26,484
44
30,270
48
24,433
44
North Carolina .....................
28,098
116
22,431
94
26,265
114
24,713
111
North Dakota .......................
318
2
296
1
302
1
298
1
Ohio .....................................
854
6
1,235
6
1,266
6
1,247
6
Oklahoma ............................
1,326
6
1,940
8
2,379
8
576
8
Oregon .................................
1,739
5
1,700
3
1,709
3
1,704
3
Pennsylvania ........................
6,954
17
5,672
23
6,143
25
5,854
24
Rhode Island ........................
99
-
148
-
148
-
148
-
South Carolina .....................
1,747
14
2,098
14
2,324
16
1,472
14
South Dakota .......................
44
-
176
-
178
-
177
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-71
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Tennessee ............................
849
3
1,687
-
2,077
-
443
-
Texas ...................................
15,113
83
13,222
70
14,794
72
13,051
70
Utah .....................................
280
1
154
-
156
-
155
-
Vermont ...............................
243
1
604
1
621
1
610
1
Virginia ...............................
7,892
5
22,888
18
26,636
24
24,590
22
Washington..........................
6,547
25
7,630
26
8,132
28
7,824
26
West Virginia ......................
335
1
1,205
5
1,239
5
1,218
5
Wisconsin ............................
723
2
1,250
3
1,269
3
1,257
3
Wyoming
39
-
147
1
152
1
149
1
U.S. TERRITORIES:
-
District of Columbia ............
5,880
4
5,315
20
5,766
20
5,673
20
Guam ...................................
651
3
824
3
842
3
831
3
Puerto Rico ..........................
3,845
50
4,328
55
4,838
55
4,525
55
ASIA/PACIFIC:
China ...................................
234
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Japan ....................................
30
-
179
-
179
-
179
-
Other ....................................
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
CARIBBEAN:
Dominican Republic ............
25
-
147
-
147
-
147
-
Other ....................................
97
-
17
-
17
-
17
-
CENTRAL AMERICA:
Other ....................................
250
-
310
-
310
-
310
-
EUROPE/NEAR EAST:
Other ....................................
222
-
155
-
155
-
155
-
NORTH AMERICA:
Canada .................................
-
-
75
-
75
-
75
-
Mexico .................................
1,660
1
1,665
-
1,665
-
1,665
-
SOUTH AMERICA:
Brazil ...................................
-
-
44
-
44
-
44
-
Other ....................................
109
-
88
-
88
-
88
-
Obligations ..........................
350,713
1,283
336,052
1,230
388,423
1,414
346,736
1,353
Lapsing Balances .................
498
5
793
15
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, EOY .....
247,730
531
344,775
439
301,214
376
298,314
376
Total, Available ...............
598,941
1,819
681,619
1,684
689,637
1,790
645,050
1,729
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-72
Table APHIS-18. Mandatory Geographic Breakdown of Obligations and FTE – American Rescue Plan Act
(thousands of dollars, FTE)
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Alabama ..................................
-
-
$38
-
$500
-
$500
-
Alaska ......................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Arizona ....................................
-
-
5
-
500
-
500
1
Arkansas ..................................
-
-
3
-
500
-
500
1
California .................................
-
-
107
1
500
1
500
5
Colorado ..................................
-
-
10,974
4
10,000
8
9,000
8
Connecticut..............................
-
-
23
-
500
-
500
-
Delaware..................................
-
-
2
-
500
-
500
-
Florida .....................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Georgia ....................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Hawaii .....................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Idaho ........................................
-
-
2
-
500
-
500
-
Illinois .....................................
-
-
70
-
800
-
800
1
Indiana .....................................
-
-
36
-
500
-
500
1
Iowa .........................................
-
-
1,236
2
5,000
2
7,000
2
Kansas .....................................
-
-
63
1
2,000
1
10,000
4
Kentucky .................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Louisiana .................................
-
-
52
-
500
-
500
1
Maine .......................................
-
-
28
-
1,000
-
1,000
1
Maryland .................................
-
-
295
3
1,000
8
5,000
11
Massachusetts ..........................
-
-
190
1
200
1
200
1
Michigan..................................
-
-
13
-
1,000
-
1,000
-
Minnesota ................................
-
-
650
2
3,000
10
3,000
10
Mississippi ...............................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Missouri ...................................
-
-
24,106
1
500
1
500
3
Montana ...................................
-
-
1
-
1,000
-
1,000
2
Nebraska ..................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
Nevada .....................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
New Hampshire .......................
-
-
14
-
500
-
500
-
New Jersey ..............................
-
-
28
-
500
-
500
-
New Mexico ............................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
New York ................................
-
-
73
1
1,000
1
1,000
4
North Carolina .........................
-
-
40
-
3,000
1
3,000
1
North Dakota ...........................
-
-
4
-
500
-
500
-
Ohio .........................................
-
-
29
-
2,000
2
2,000
4
Oklahoma ................................
-
-
0
-
1,000
-
1,000
1
Oregon .....................................
-
-
23
-
3,000
-
3,000
-
Pennsylvania ............................
-
-
42
-
500
-
500
1
Rhode Island ............................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
South Carolina .........................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
South Dakota ...........................
-
-
9
-
500
-
500
-
Tennessee ................................
-
-
25
-
1,000
-
1,000
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-73
Texas .......................................
-
-
141
1
1,000
3
1,000
5
Utah .........................................
-
-
4
-
500
-
500
-
Vermont ...................................
-
-
64
-
500
-
500
1
Virginia ...................................
-
-
9
-
500
-
500
-
Washington..............................
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
1,000
1
West Virginia ..........................
-
-
25
-
500
-
500
-
Wisconsin ................................
-
-
118
1
500
2
500
2
Wyoming .................................
-
-
-
-
500
-
500
-
U.S. TERRITORIES:
District of Columbia ................
-
-
4,675
5
5,000
5
5,000
5
Puerto Rico ..............................
-
-
79
-
-
-
-
-
INTERNATIONAL REGIONS
AFRICA:
Senegal ....................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,000
4
ASIA/PACIFIC:
Other ........................................
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,000
4
EUROPE/NEAR EAST:
Other ........................................
-
-
-
-
5,000
4
5,000
4
Obligations ..............................
-
-
43,296
22
64,000
50
85,000
89
Balance Available, EOY .........
$300,000
335
256,704
313
192,714
263
107,714
174
Total, Available .......................
300,000
335
300,010
335
256,714
313
192,714
263
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-74
CLASSIFICATION BY OBJECTS
Table APHIS-19. Discretionary Classification by Objects (thousands of dollars)
Item
No.
Item
2021
Actual
2022
Actual
2023
Estimated
2024
Estimated
Personnel Compensation:
Washington D.C. ............................................................................
$87,646
$90,336
$92,415
$95,215
Personnel Compensation, Field ......................................................
293,424
302,428
309,389
324,898
11
Total personnel compensation ........................................................
381,070
392,764
401,803
420,113
12
Personal benefits ............................................................................
139,968
150,370
154,753
162,732
13.0
Benefits for former personnel ........................................................
893
1,068
1,124
1,130
Total, personnel comp. and benefits ...............................................
521,931
544,202
557,680
583,975
Other Objects:
21.0
Travel and transportation of persons ..............................................
14,613
21,702
22,202
22,030
22.0
Transportation of things .................................................................
2,729
2,900
3,000
3,104
23.1
Rental payments to GSA ................................................................
38,431
39,659
40,059
40,059
23.2
Rental payments to others ..............................................................
9,688
7,865
8,065
8,165
23.3
Communications, utilities, and misc. charges ................................
11,298
9,521
9,596
9,596
24.0
Printing and reproduction ...............................................................
401
580
630
645
25
Other contractual services ..............................................................
-
-
-
-
25.1
Advisory and assistance services ...................................................
228,617
327,570
331,570
271,746
25.2
Other services from non-Federal sources .......................................
43,808
103,714
105,714
110,593
25.3
Other goods and services from Federal sources .............................
102,956
124,078
124,928
124,382
25.4
Operation and maintenance of facilities .........................................
221
54
60
60
25.5
Research and development contracts .............................................
1,285
2,452
2,752
2,752
25.6
Medical Care ..................................................................................
60
58
60
60
25.7
Operation and maintenance of equipment ......................................
29,658
29,063
30,563
30,992
26.0
Supplies and materials ...................................................................
41,957
50,308
52,308
53,698
31.0
Equipment ......................................................................................
18,446
27,765
32,765
31,234
32.0
Lands and Structures ......................................................................
12
16
16
16
41.0
Grants, subsidies, and contributions ...............................................
128
68
73
73
42.0
Insurance Claims and Indemnities .................................................
4,912
344,541
378,476
5,476
43.0
Interest and Dividends ...................................................................
2
5
5
5
Total, Other Objects .......................................................................
549,222
1,091,919
1,142,842
714,686
99.9
Total, new obligations ....................................................................
1,071,153
1,636,121
1,700,522
1,298,661
DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3) .....................
$5,649
$6,566
$6,730
$6,898
Information Technology Investments:
Major Investment 1
Animal Disease Traceability Information System (ADTIS)
11
External Labor (Contractors) .........................................................
4,204
3,030
2,750
30
25.2
Outside Services (Consulting) ........................................................
150
-
3,001
120
Total Major Investment 1 ...............................................................
4,354
3,030
5,751
150
Major Investment 2
Certif, Accred, Reg, Permitting & Other Licenses (CARPOL)
11
Internal Labor.................................................................................
-
12,545
32
-
External Labor (Contractors) .........................................................
12,470
-
12,938
2,491
25.2
Outside Services (Consulting) ........................................................
2,030
-
40
19
Total Major Investment 2 ...............................................................
14,500
12,545
13,010
2,510
Major Investment 3
National Bio- and Agro- Defense Facility (NBAF)
11
Internal Labor.................................................................................
617
-
-
-
External Labor (Contractors) .........................................................
4,223
4,869
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-75
Item
No.
Item
2021
Actual
2022
Actual
2023
Estimated
2024
Estimated
25.2
Outside Services (Consulting) ........................................................
9,810
10,133
3,229
4,104
Total Major Investment 3 ...............................................................
14,650
15,002
3,229
4,104
Mission Area Non-Major Investment Totals ..................................
49,889
49,945
50,444
33,209
Mission Area Standard Investment Totals ......................................
63,077
56,065
70,383
75,018
25.3
Mission Area WCF Transfers. ........................................................
63,811
54,615
56,313
61,766
Total Non-Major Investment .........................................................
176,777
160,625
177,140
169,993
Total IT Investments ......................................................................
210,281
191,202
199,130
176,757
Position Data:
Average Salary (dollars), ES Position ............................................
$188,612
$191,744
$193,661
$195,598
Average Salary (dollars), GS Position ...........................................
$89,270
$93,410
$94,344
$95,288
Average Grade, GS Position ...........................................................
10.9
10.9
10.9
10.9
23-76
Table APHIS-20. Mandatory Classification by Objects (thousands of dollars)
Item
No.
Item
2021
Actual
2022
Actual
2023
Estimated
2024
Estimated
Personnel Compensation:
Washington D.C. ............................................................................
$25,714
$26,079
$26,679
$27,293
Personnel Compensation, Field ......................................................
86,087
87,306
89,316
91,873
11
Total personnel compensation ........................................................
111,801
113,385
115,995
119,165
12
Personal benefits ............................................................................
55,021
49,160
50,291
51,447
13.0
Benefits for former personnel ........................................................
167
200
208
215
Total, personnel comp. and benefits ...............................................
166,989
162,745
166,494
170,828
Other Objects:
21.0
Travel and transportation of persons ..............................................
2,207
2,336
2,412
2,836
22.0
Transportation of things .................................................................
314
323
343
363
23.1
Rental payments to GSA ................................................................
3,602
4,351
4,351
4,551
23.2
Rental payments to others ..............................................................
10,189
9,482
9,482
9,882
23.3
Communications, utilities, and misc. charges ................................
3,922
3,114
3,114
3,314
24.0
Printing and reproduction ...............................................................
61
61
61
61
25
Other contractual services ..............................................................
-
-
-
-
25.1
Advisory and assistance services ...................................................
105,416
108,907
158,887
133,867
25.2
Other services from non-Federal sources .......................................
17,835
15,102
21,102
21,102
25.3
Other goods and services from Federal sources .............................
25,090
56,092
63,092
62,092
25.4
Operation and maintenance of facilities .........................................
8
3
3
3
25.5
Research and development contracts .............................................
40
86
86
86
25.6
Medical Care ..................................................................................
19
35
35
35
25.7
Operation and maintenance of equipment ......................................
1,251
6,999
7,749
8,724
26.0
Supplies and materials ...................................................................
11,290
4,905
9,905
8,405
31.0
Equipment ......................................................................................
2,479
4,797
5,297
5,577
32.0
Lands and Structures ......................................................................
-
9
9
9
41.0
Grants, subsidies, and contributions ...............................................
-
0
0
0
42.0
Insurance Claims and Indemnities .................................................
-
1
1
1
43.0
Interest and Dividends ...................................................................
1
-
-
-
Total, Other Objects .......................................................................
183,724
216,603
285,929
260,908
99.9
Total, new obligations ....................................................................
350,713
379,348
452,423
431,736
DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3) .....................
$576
$1,002
$1,450
$1,675
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-77
STATUS OF PROGRAMS
SAFEGUARDING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS/RESPONSE
Current Activities
American agriculture faces many threats from foreign and domestic pests and diseases which have the potential to
negatively impact animal and plant agricultural production, trade, and the economy. APHIS monitors and responds
to potential diseases of livestock and wildlife, invasive species, and conflicts between humans and wildlife as it
strives to assure its stakeholders that it is on guard against the introduction or re-emergence of animal and plant pests
and diseases that could limit agricultural production.
When a pest or disease is detected in the United States, APHIS works cooperatively with Federal, State, Tribal and
industry partners to conduct animal and plant health monitoring programs to rapidly diagnose them and determine if
there is a need to establish new pest or disease management programs. APHIS, in conjunction with States, Tribes,
industry, and other stakeholders, protects American agriculture by eradicating harmful pests and diseases or, where
eradication is not feasible, by minimizing their economic impact. The Agency monitors endemic pests and diseases
through surveys to detect their location and through inspection to prevent their spread into non-infested parts of the
country. APHIS conducts diagnostic laboratory activities that support the Agency’s veterinary disease prevention,
detection, control, and eradication programs. The Agency also provides and directs technology development to
support plant protection programs and cooperators at the State, national, and international levels. APHIS also
develops methods to control animals and pests that are detrimental to agriculture, wildlife, and public safety.
The Agency maintains a cadre of trained professionals prepared to respond immediately to potential animal and
plant health emergencies. Program personnel investigate reports of suspected exotic pests and diseases and take
emergency action if necessary. To facilitate these efforts, APHIS develops pathway studies and thoroughly
investigates the progression of outbreaks to determine the origin of animal and plant pests and diseases. APHIS also
actively engages State, Tribal, and local governments, and industries to advance their emergency preparedness and
response capabilities.
APHIS conducts operations to ensure the humane care and treatment of vulnerable animals covered under the
Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act. The Agency also balances a regulatory system that safeguards
agriculture while fostering innovative research and development in the field of biotechnology.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress - Animal Health:
1. Animal Health Technical Services
APHIS’ Animal Health Technical Services develops and enhances tools for acquiring and managing information
vital for improving global market access for U.S. livestock and animal products. Incorporating national surveillance
standards into data management applications allows the program to compile animal health information nationally,
thus leveraging the work of animal health professionals nationwide to meet local, State, and national veterinary
health objectives. The National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) trains private veterinarians to help
producers meet export requirements and disease program standards. Ultimately, this allows U.S. animals and animal
products to compete in the global economy.
Animal Disease Traceability (ADT)
The national ADT framework allows Federal, State, Tribal, and private animal health professionals to work together
to identify diseased animals, quickly trace their movements, and control disease spread to protect the livestock
industry, whose production value was approximately $123 billion in 2021 (National Agricultural Statistics Service,
USDA). The ADT framework enables animal health officials to trace an animal from the location of official
identification to the animal’s last location, which is often the termination point or slaughter plant. Knowledge of the
location of diseased and at-risk animals helps preserve animal health; enables a rapid response in case of an animal
disease event; reduces animal illnesses and deaths during outbreaks; and decreases the cost to producers, consumers,
and the government. This system also assures our trading partners that States, and USDA can rapidly contain an
animal disease event. Each year, APHIS provides cooperative agreement funds to States, tribes, and territories to
help them establish and maintain support for ADT activities. Currently all cooperators receiving program funds have
approved ADT strategic plans in place with APHIS.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-78
The ADT program continues to progress in maximizing flexibility while maintaining effectiveness and increasing
the timeliness of retrieving traceability data. APHIS measures the success of the ADT program by conducting trace
exercises that document a cooperator’s ability to properly record and retrieve documents pertaining to official
livestock identification and interstate movement. In 2022, APHIS continued to conduct national priority trace
exercises where cooperators prioritize the traces as national emergencies. Cooperators completed 378 national
priority trace exercises and demonstrated improvement in the national median and average elapsed times. Most
cooperators were able to complete each trace exercise in less than or equal to one hour. The ADT program will
continue to conduct national priority trace exercises in 2023, as part of its performance-based program to evaluate
cooperators’ abilities to successfully complete trace investigations.
One of the most significant opportunities to strengthen the ADT system is to improve the accessibility for electronic
identification tags in adult beef and all dairy cattle, as well as in bison. The electronic tags use radio frequency
identification (RFID), which speeds information capture and sharing. In 2022, APHIS purchased official RFID tags
to be provided to States as an optional alternative for the currently available metal tags. The tags are provided at no
cost, and each State veterinarian distributes the tags in a way that best serves their industry. The tags are available as
orange RFID official vaccination tags for use in heifers vaccinated for brucellosis, or white RFID tags for non-
vaccinated heifers. Since RFID tag distribution began in 2020 through October 2022, approximately 16 million tags
were distributed as free tag alternatives to visual metal ID tags. This accounts for about half of all USDA approved
official identification tags distributed by USDA for cattle in that time.
Information Management
Many of the APHIS information management systems are available to States and Tribal Nations to support their
traceability plans and other animal health activities. APHIS conducts evaluations of existing data systems and
applications to determine if they should modify and enhance them or if they should develop new systems and
applications. In 2022, APHIS continued modernization efforts for the Animal Disease Traceability Information
System (ADTIS). The ADTIS is an information management system that APHIS utilizes to maintain records of
official identification devices and other information associated with official identification numbers of animals. The
system contains several modules or components that maintain information to support APHIS' ability to respond to
animal health events. The modernization effort combined three separate premises registration applications into a
comprehensive premises management system, released in November 2021. APHIS also initiated modernization of
the Animal Identification Management System (AIMS) in 2022. AIMS is used to administer official animal
identification numbers and devices and other events associated with an official identification number. This
modernization effort will be completed in 2023.
To further strengthen the nation’s animal disease traceability capabilities, APHIS developed an electronic reporting
tool for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) test results to streamline data collection and reporting activities
for HPAI response efforts in 2022. Additionally, in response to the recent African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak,
APHIS developed a pipeline to integrate ASF surveillance data from the Agency’s Emergency Management
Response System for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with the national surveillance program’s Data
Integration System. This integrated surveillance data enhanced the ASF operational dashboards as well as the public
facing dashboard to provide a comprehensive picture of ASF response efforts in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP)
More than 71,000 highly trained accredited veterinarians voluntarily participate in NVAP. Accreditation by USDA
allows private practice, academic, industry, military, and other veterinarians to serve as the first line of defense for
reportable domestic and foreign animal diseases. Once symptoms of a suspected foreign animal disease are reported,
further diagnostics can be conducted or facilitated by Federal veterinarians and State animal health officials to
provide rapid diagnosis, quarantine, and other control measures to safeguard animal and human health. Accredited
veterinarians also provide official animal, flock, and herd health certifications, disease testing, and traceability
measures which are needed for the intrastate, interstate, and international movement of animals each year.
Mandatory training for participants and renewal of accreditation every three years provides current information of
animal disease surveillance, prevention, zoonoses, judicious use of antimicrobials, animal welfare, and disaster
preparedness. APHIS currently hosts 37 web-based supplemental training modules for accredited veterinarians and
veterinary students. Since 2011, accredited veterinarians have completed nearly 1,000,000 hours of online training
modules, and more than 40,000 modules completed at veterinary conferences nationwide.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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2. Aquatic Animal Health
The Aquatic Animal Health program protects the health and value of U.S. farm-raised aquatic animals and natural
resources. The program supports commercial producers in domestic and international trade markets, valued at $1.5
billion in 2018 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2018 Census of Aquaculture). The National Aquaculture
Health Plan and Standards (NAHPS), which replaced the 2008 National Aquatic Animal Health Plan in 2021,
provides a framework for Federal policies and programs to address aquatic animal diseases for the benefit of
aquaculture and aquatic animal resources. The NAHPS affirms USDA as the lead Federal authority for U.S.
aquaculture health, which is consistent with other livestock health programs. As such, the Department will oversee
the health and promotion of aquatic livestock to meet the growth and demand of the domestic aquaculture industry.
The NAHPS outlines the infrastructure measures needed to protect the health of farmed aquatic animals, which
include disease reporting, standardized laboratory quality assurance and testing of high-consequence aquatic animal
diseases, surveillance, data management, and health certification programs. These elements are fundamental for a
robust, comprehensive system. The NAHPS program promotes industry growth by improving marketability through
consumer confidence, as well as facilitating the interstate and international trade and movement of live animals and
animal products.
In 2022, APHIS continued working with the National Aquaculture Association to develop the Commercial
Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS), a voluntary national and uniform approach to aquaculture health
standards. The goal of CAHPS is to support improved health management, protect and expand aquaculture business
opportunities, promote and facilitate trade, and improve resource protection. CAHPS establishes site-specific plans
for biosecurity, surveillance, and response related to animal health events. Well-managed surveillance planning is
the foundation for animal health activities that include disease control and eradication programs, support of
emergency preparedness and response, and international trade. In 2022, APHIS used the CAHPS framework as a
template for achieving disease freedom status for 6 commercial shrimp companies. Under the framework, farms
wanting to be recognized as “free” from specific pathogens are required to meet health requirements for
trade/movement with 95 percent confidence that a pathogen exists at a 2 percent or less prevalence.
On December 15, 2021, APHIS released a risk assessment which evaluated potential entry and exposure pathways
of virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh), an aquatic pathogen, in the United States. APHIS performed this
assessment in response to concerns raised by the U.S. catfish industry about the potential risk of vAh introduction to
catfish farms via imported live food fish, raw food fish, and consumable fish food products. vAh is not an OIE-listed
aquatic animal pathogen, nor is it a USDA notifiable disease that must be reported immediately to State and Federal
officials, and there are no Federal import requirements specific to vAh. The assessment found that while some
imports may serve as entry pathways for vAh into the United States, they are unlikely to result in pathogen exposure
to the commercial catfish industry. The most likely exposure pathways identified in this assessment include the
domestic movement of catfish, contaminated water, wildlife and birds, and fomites. On February 25, 2022, the
Agency held a briefing with the catfish industry to address the results of the assessment.
3. Avian Health
The Avian Health program protects the U.S. poultry industry, whose production value was $46.1 billion in 2021
(USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service), while facilitating agricultural trade in poultry and poultry
products. This program consists of the surveillance, prevention, and control of avian diseases; disease threat
planning and response; and international avian health activities. APHIS’ surveillance programs detect foreign,
zoonotic, and domestic diseases that could substantially impact domestic production and the economy. Surveillance
information facilitates trade and protects public health by demonstrating that certain diseases do not exist in poultry
populations. Prevention and control programs minimize the disease threat and protect the value of poultry markets.
The Agency also maintains regulations and national program standards and guidelines that direct avian health
activities at the Federal, State, and Tribal levels. Maintaining these standards supports interstate and international
commerce by providing assurances about the health of avian species and products that are moved or traded. In
addition, APHIS uses epidemiological and economic modeling to better understand historical events and inform
policy decisions.
APHIS works to quickly detect and address endemic, emerging, and foreign disease threats to ensure that the U.S.
poultry industry maintains worldwide competitiveness. To detect these threats, the Agency conducts surveillance in
domestic poultry, the live bird marketing system (LBMS), and wild birds. The LBMS is a voluntary network of U.S.
live poultry markets and their production and distribution systems, which provides fresh poultry meat to consumers.
As of September 30, 2022, 33 States had live bird market components that participated in APHIS’ H5/H7 AI
prevention and control program. State cooperators help conduct surveillance and diagnostic activities for the LBMS.
When these tests yield presumptive positive results, the Agency confirms the presence and strain of AI. LBMS
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
23-80
testing prevents and controls AI in markets and among producers and distributors that supply those markets. In
2022, there was one H5N3 LPAI detection in the LBMS. The program conducted 122,524 AI surveillance tests in
the LBMS in 2021 and approximately 56,000 tests in the first two quarters of 2022. Complete 2022 data will be
available after the agreements with States conclude on March 31, 2023. Several years ago, APHIS initiated a plan to
eliminate the H2N2 AI virus from the LBMS in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The virus
had been circulating in these areas since 2014. In 2022 was the first year in which all four of these States instituted a
control program. As a result, LBM H2N2 detections decreased by 68 percent (from 272 in 2021 to 86 in 2022). In
addition, no reassortment (the process in which related segmented viruses create novel viruses that may be more
pathogenic than their parental viruses) has been detected since mid-July 2021.
The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a cooperative Federal-State-industry program that helps
participants guard against disease incursion and enhance the marketability of poultry and poultry products. The
program includes the testing and monitoring of Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella
Gallinarum, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Mycoplasma meleagridis, and H5/H7 strains of
avian influenza (AI). The NPIP H5/H7 prevention and control program involves all 50 States and Puerto Rico; more
than 95 percent of commercial broiler, turkey, and egg industries; and the entire primary poultry breeding industry.
Ninety-nine approved laboratories in 42 States provide diagnostic testing for the program. Surveillance, diagnostic,
and biosecurity activities are funded through cooperative agreements with requesting States. In addition, APHIS
manages the NPIP U.S. Poultry Primary Breeder AI Compartmentalization program, which audits and certifies
pedigree poultry stock breeding companies that practice high-level biosecurity measures to keep their flocks AI-free.
Compartmentalization defines the health status of a subpopulation of animals by common biosecurity and
management principles rather than a shared geographic boundary. This voluntary program supports the trade of
poultry and poultry products if the United States encounters an AI outbreak. Participating breeders must meet
extensive biosecurity, personnel training, disease monitoring, and laboratory infrastructure requirements. APHIS
administers the program and serves as the regulatory authority that international trading partners can trust to verify
that a participant meets the requirements.
APHIS conducts AI surveillance in commercial poultry under the National H5/H7 AI Prevention and Control
program. Although most of the testing is performed locally, the Agency’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories
(NVSL) provides reagents for testing and performs confirmation and identification testing of presumptive positive
specimens. Each year, APHIS performs approximately one million AI surveillance tests through NPIP AI
cooperative agreements. In 2021, APHIS performed approximately 1.5 million AI surveillance tests through NPIP
AI cooperative agreements and more than 1.3 million tests through the third quarter of 2022. Complete 2022 data
will be available after the agreements with States conclude on March 31, 2023.
AI circulates in waterfowl and shorebirds causing little to no disease, which allows the viruses to move efficiently
along migratory flyways in these birds. Occasionally, these viruses infect domestic land-based poultry such as
chickens and turkeys. When poultry are infected with H5 or H7 strains of AI virus, the virus can evolve into the
more serious disease-causing form, highly pathogenic AI (HPAI). HPAI usually causes significant disease and
mortality in domestic poultry and sometimes in wild birds. APHIS conducts wild bird surveillance to gain insight
into AI viruses in wild populations, and to provide that data to poultry producers and others so they can make
informed biosecurity and management decisions. In February 2022, APHIS detected highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) in the United States. This initial detection was from a wild bird sampled as part of this surveillance
efforts. APHIS leveraged NVSL and National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratories to
increase AI surveillance in both wild and domestic birds to detect and respond to new HPAI detections. In 2022, the
Agency coordinated the collection and laboratory analysis of approximately 20,860 wild bird samples from wild
waterfowl in priority watersheds in all four flyways. Based on tests results available as of September 30, 2022,
APHIS detected HPAI in 474 premises, including 230 U.S. commercial poultry flocks, across 40 states in 2022.
Internationally, APHIS facilitates agricultural trade, works with agricultural officials, monitors agricultural health,
and supports efforts in sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting. The Agency works with animal health
counterparts to reduce the impact of AI in trade by promoting transparent communications; clarifying animal disease
status; and - when U.S. poultry markets close - providing relevant data to reopen them and minimizing trade
disruption of these products. In addition, APHIS works with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and the U.S.
Trade Representative’s Office to maintain a coordinated, strategic approach to resolving avian health issues that
affect U.S. exports. Further, APHIS coordinates with the World Organisation for Animal Health and other
international organizations to assist with disease prevention, management, and eradication activities in HPAI-
affected regions. In addition, APHIS sponsors and staffs the Emergency Management Center at the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in Rome, Italy. This Center provides assessments, guidance, and
resources to enable rapid response to animal disease outbreaks in countries where the United States would have
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difficulties placing personnel or responding bilaterally. This approach reduces the threat of disease outbreaks
becoming widespread and evolving into pandemics. In addition, the Agency works closely with counterparts in
Canada and Mexico to address avian disease threats affecting North America. APHIS also delivers capacity-building
activities focused on biosecurity, poultry disease diagnostics, quality assurance in the laboratory, and poultry and
wildlife surveillance. In 2022, APHIS partnered with the University of Delaware to deliver an Emergency Poultry
Disease and Regionalization Workshop, with 23 participants from 16 countries in Latin America, Middle East, Asia,
and Europe attendance and a Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Quality Assurance Seminar, with 20 participants from 12
countries in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. This training included international animal health standards related to
trade and the management of poultry disease outbreaks.
4. Cattle Health
The Cattle Health Program protects and improves the quality, productivity, and economic viability of the U.S. cattle
industry, whose production was valued at approximately $94 billion (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2021).
The Cattle Health Program has two major goals: to rapidly detect and respond to diseases that could significantly
affect the U.S. cattle and bison population and prevent the spread endemic disease of concern or any newly detected
disease in domestic cattle and bison.
APHIS activities in the Cattle Health Program include surveillance, disease prevention, disease investigation, and
outbreak response actions. In addition, APHIS maintains regulations, national program standards, and guidelines
that direct activities at the Federal, State, Tribal, and local levels. Establishing and maintaining these standards is
critical to supporting interstate and international commerce by providing assurances about the health of cattle or
bison being moved or traded.
In 2022, APHIS continued to conduct surveillance for foreign, emerging, and endemic diseases, including bovine
tuberculosis (TB), brucellosis, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) as well as disease vectors, such as the
cattle fever tick (CFT), and new world screwworm (NWS). The Agency conducts surveillance through cattle testing
on-farm as well as at slaughter facilities, livestock markets, shows, sales, buying stations (first point testing), and
rendering facilities (operations that collect dead, dying, disabled, and diseased animals). APHIS also continued
working with Canada and Mexico to prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease, new world screwworm,
and other cattle diseases. The following are examples of the Agency’s efforts to protect cattle health during 2022.
Bovine tuberculosis
Bovine TB primarily affects cattle but has the potential to affect other animal species and humans as well. APHIS’
surveillance for this disease includes testing live cattle and using slaughter surveillance data from the USDA’s Food
Safety and Inspection Service. The bovine TB program, initiated in 1917, has significantly decreased the prevalence
of the disease in U.S. livestock. Today the prevalence rate in cattle herds is less than 0.001 percent.
In 2022, 136 Federally inspected slaughter establishments submitted 5,602 samples for TB testing. Through these
slaughter surveillance efforts, the program detected TB in six herds in 2022: four in Hawaii, one from Michigan’s
Modified Accredited Free Zone, and one with shared operations in Texas and New Mexico APHIS used CCC funds
to conduct test-and-remove protocols and depopulation activities in accordance with each herd’s management plan.
The Cattle Health Program has five State bovine TB classifications. A higher disease prevalence results in
classifications that have more restrictive movement requirements. The classifications are, in order of least restrictive
to most restrictive: accredited free, modified accredited advanced, modified accredited, accreditation preparatory,
and non-accredited. Michigan is currently composed of two classification zones: accredited free and modified
accredited status. At the end of 2022, 49 States, 2 Territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and 1
classification zone in Michigan were TB accredited free.
Bovine brucellosis
Bovine brucellosis is an infectious disease that can cause decreased milk production, weight loss, abortions,
infertility, and lameness. These effects can negatively impact the livelihood of cattle producers and the supply of
meat and dairy products. Federal and State brucellosis eradication efforts have resulted in all 50 States, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands being Class-Free since July 2009. The brucellosis Class-Free
classification is based on no detections of brucellosis in the cattle herd for 12 months. Class-Free States with
brucellosis in wildlife work with APHIS to implement a State brucellosis management plan (BMP). Each BMP
defines the basis for the area identified; describes the epidemiologic assessment and surveillance activities to
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determine if wildlife populations are affected; and describes surveillance and mitigation activities for cattle, bison,
and wildlife. Although the U.S. is considered Class-Free of brucellosis, there continues to be a presence of
brucellosis in free-ranging bison and wild elk in the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA), which includes parts of
Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming and is commonly referred to as the Greater Yellowstone Area.
APHIS provides expertise to land and wildlife management agencies to manage brucellosis in the DSA. In 2022,
APHIS conducted a brucellosis program review for Idaho to ensure the State is properly administering the
brucellosis program to control their DSA and prevent infection from escaping the endemic zone. In 2022, APHIS
detected brucellosis in two herds in Montana within the State’s DSA. APHIS placed both herds under a test-and-
remove herd management plan. APHIS’s Approved Bison Quarantine Facility located in Montana is used to capture
bison inside Yellowstone National Park, test them to determine brucellosis disease status, and release disease-free
bison outside the DSA. In 2022, APHIS released 28 adult bison to the Fort Peck Bison Testing facility, an approved
APHIS assurance testing facility which APHIS has partnered to increase the capacity for bison release.
In 2022 APHIS tested approximately 511,000 head of cattle under the market cattle identification national slaughter
surveillance program, exceeding the annual target goal of 350,000. The Agency, in conjunction with States, tests
cattle and domestic bison on farms and ranches prior to movement, private sale, and herd certification issuance for
show and exhibition purposes. In 2022, the program vaccinated over 3.3 million calves and tested over 11,000 adult
cattle for brucellosis. The number of certified-free herds is steadily declining since all States are considered Class-
Free of brucellosis. Agency-accredited veterinarians perform most of the vaccinations and sample collection, and
State laboratories test the samples. As of September 30, 2022, the program is still collecting and validating fourth
quarter testing and sampling data.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
BSE, widely referred to as “mad cow disease,” is a progressive and fatal neurologic disease of cattle. The disease is
caused by a transmissible agent, an abnormal prion protein. BSE is not a contagious disease and therefore is not
spread through casual contact between cattle or with other species. The primary route of spread of classical BSE
infection in cattle is feed contaminated with the infectious agent. APHIS works with the USDA Food Safety and
Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration to conduct ongoing BSE surveillance, allowing the US to
maintain BSE Negligible Risk status per the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH) standards to
facilitate trade.
The WOAH evaluates countries that submit a request for disease freedom and assigns a points-based risk status for
BSE. The BSE surveillance program uses OIE's weighted surveillance points system, which reflects that the best
BSE surveillance programs focus on obtaining quality samples from targeted populations rather than looking at the
entire adult cattle population. The OIE’s surveillance points system also incorporates a country’s history with the
disease, the implementation and enforcement of cattle feed regulations, and their overall BSE surveillance. In 2022,
the Agency tested 21,816 cattle for BSE, resulting in 360,553 points, exceeding the OIE’s international surveillance
standards (21,429 points per year) by 18 times. No cases of BSE were detected in 2022.
Cattle fever tick
The Federal-State Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program is a partnership between APHIS and the Texas Animal
Health Commission. The cattle fever tick (Boophilus annulatus) and the southern cattle tick (B. microplus) are
vectors for spreading babesiosis, also known as cattle fever. Even when not transmitting this disease, CFT can cause
blood loss, damage to hides, and an overall decrease in the condition of livestock. Mortality in cattle without prior
exposure to the disease ranges from 70 to 90 percent. The Agency focuses on controlling the spread of tick species
that transmit the infectious agent through the inspection of livestock before they leave quarantined areas,
surveillance at local markets, inspection of hunter-killed white-tailed deer and other exotic ungulates that can harbor
the tick, and horseback river trail patrols to capture stray and smuggled Mexican livestock that may carry ticks into
the United States.
The United States remains free of cattle fever. There is a permanent quarantine buffer zone established between
Texas and Mexico. Bordering Mexican states harbor tick species, which carry the disease, and tick-infested wildlife
or livestock near the U.S./Mexico border can bring the ticks into the United States. Tick eradication activities consist
of identifying and quarantining infested premises and treating livestock and wildlife. Approved treatment methods
for ticks include dipping or spraying cattle with coumaphos, feeding ivermectin-treated corn to deer found in
wildlife, and injecting cattle with Doramectin. To release a quarantine area, every infested premise must have all
cattle treated for at least nine months, including inspections and treatments every two weeks. In 2022, APHIS
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conducted 83,319 individual animal inspections and 81,258 treatments throughout South Texas. For 2022, the
permanent quarantine zone and the free area of Texas contained 63 newly quarantined premises (34 in the Free area
and 32 in the permanent quarantine zone), compared to 66 (25 in the Free Area; 38 in the permanent quarantine
zone) in 2021.
Carrizo cane is an invasive species and perennial bamboo-like grass that occupies the banks and floodplains of the
Rio Grande in Texas. The cane makes for a particularly favorable habitat for CFT which reside in the vegetation
waiting for animals to brush by so they can attach. The standard approach for keeping Carrizo cane under control is
to cut it down to three feet twice a year using a mechanical cutter bar mounted on a tractor, a process referred to as
“topping”. In 2022, APHIS worked with contractors to aid in the eradication of the invasive cane and increase river
visibility by successfully topping approximately 115 miles of land area, primarily alongside river trails used by CFT
inspectors.
Screwworm
APHIS and its cooperators eradicated new world screwworm (–NWS; Cochliomyia hominovorax) from the United
States, Mexico, portions of the Caribbean, and down through Central America to the southern-most portion of
Panama. APHIS’ international efforts prevent the reestablishment of NWS in the United States by collaborating with
Panama and Colombia to maintain a biological barrier zone in eastern Panama preventing the northward movement
of this pest from South America, where it is endemic, to NWS free areas in Central and North America and the
Caribbean. This investment saves an estimated $3 billion dollars annually (APHIS internal analysis) for the cattle
industries of the United States and other NWS free areas, and contributes to financial security of related agricultural
industries, animal health and welfare, and food security in the region.
The program relies on field operations and the sterile insect technique, a process where APHIS and cooperators
mass-rear and sterilize NWS at a jointly managed facility in Panama and release them in the barrier zone to mate
with wild NWS flies, thereby preventing reproduction and controlling wild populations, thereby preventing
reproduction, and controlling wild populations. The facility produces approximately 20 million sterile NWS per
week but can produce up to 80 million sterile flies per week, providing surge capacity for additional production in
the event of an outbreak in U.S. territory.
In 2022 presented the highest number of NWS cases detected in the barrier zone since eradication was declared in
2006. The program confirmed 621 positive cases, the majority clustered along the Pan-American highway in Darien
Province, presenting a high risk of pest spread from the barrier zone into screwworm free areas in Panama via cattle
movement. The cases in this area were higher than normal due to several reasons, including a significant increase in
the cattle population in Darien—from approximately 64,000 in 2006 to 133,000 in 2022 (a 108 percent increase).
Surveillance activities indicate that approximately 75 percent of cases were detected in preventable wounds left
untreated, presenting an opportunity for producer education Worldwide shipping disturbances affected accessibility
of routine supplies and materials, including quality powdered egg, a critical NWS diet ingredient already in limited
supply due to the Avian Influenza outbreak. Additionally, a shipment of contaminated fiber led to reduced fitness of
the sterile NWS. The program resolved these issues through diet testing, analysis, trial-and-error adjustment of the
diet, and monitoring studies show steady improvement in the quality of the sterile flies. To address the high number
of cases, the program hired additional temporary field inspectors and extension agents to support surveillance,
outreach, and education campaigns for producers and intensified quarantine animal movement control activities. The
program also increased NWS production from 20 to 24 million sterile NWS per week to augment aerial and ground
release rates over high-risk areas. While the number of monthly cases declined by 30 percent from August to
September 2022, the program continues to improve the sterile NWS strain in production and will introduce
cryogenically preserved biological material for additional fitness. Despite the challenges, APHIS and its cooperators
contained NWS cases within the barrier, protecting NWS free areas in the United States and Latin America.
5. Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant Health
The Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health (ECSRH) program protects the health and improves the quality,
productivity, and economic viability of the equine, cervid, sheep, and goat industries. APHIS activities include
monitoring, surveillance, investigation, response, and disease prevention and preparedness to address animal health
issues. The Agency’s monitoring and surveillance activities detect foreign, emerging, zoonotic, and domestic
diseases that could substantially impact the economy. APHIS also works with international and domestic trading
partners to facilitate safe trade in equine, cervids, and small ruminants and their products and ensure diseases
incidents of trade concern are reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). In 2022, the ECSRH
Program conducted disease surveillance and/or monitoring for the following diseases: scrapie, bovine tuberculosis
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(TB), chronic wasting disease (CWD), vesicular stomatitis virus, contagious equine metritis (CEM), equine
piroplasmosis (EP), Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), West Nile virus (WNV) and equine infectious anemia (EIA).
Sheep and Goat
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Infected flocks can
experience significant production losses. The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) focuses on improving
the health of domestic sheep and goat, reducing scrapie-associated economic losses and increasing international
marketing opportunities. Regulatory scrapie slaughter surveillance efforts began in 2003, and were designed to
identify scrapie infected flocks and herds by sampling animals at slaughter. Since the surveillance program began in
2003, the program has collected samples from approximately 718,000 animals at slaughter, and only 471 sheep have
tested positive for classical scrapie.
In 2022, APHIS collected samples from more than 23,000 sheep and goats for scrapie testing. Out of the total
number of animals tested in 2022, no animals tested positive for classical scrapie and one sheep tested positive for
non-classical scrapie (Nor98-like). Unlike classical scrapie, non-classical scrapie is either not laterally transmissible
or is transmissible at a very low rate. The WOAH and APHIS determined that it is not a disease of trade concern.
NSEP has a voluntary flock certification component, the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP).
Participation in SFCP enables producers to enhance the marketability of their animals by protecting them from
scrapie and provides participants an avenue to export sheep and goats. In 2022, 194 flocks were enrolled in SFCP.
Of these, 41 were export certified (scrapie-free), 31 were export monitored (working towards documenting scrapie
freedom), and 122 were select monitored (reduced scrapie risk).
Cervids
APHIS works with State agencies to encourage cervid owners to certify their herds by meeting the requirements in
the CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) Standards. APHIS’ voluntary national CWD HCP helps States, Tribes,
and the cervid industry control CWD in farmed cervids by allowing the interstate movement only from certified
herds. Currently, 28 States participate in the national CWD HCP. In 2022, 7 percent of the 285,589 farmed cervids
in the HCP participating states were tested for CWD at State and APHIS laboratories. APHIS confirmed 23 new
CWD positive farmed cervid herds. APHIS provided Federal indemnity to depopulate nine of the newly identified
positive herds in 2022. The remaining infected herds are under State quarantines. APHIS determines the use of
Federal indemnity payments within the CWD program on a case-by-case basis.
In 2022, APHIS made approximately $9.4 million available for cooperative agreements with States and Tribal
governments to further develop and implement CWD surveillance, testing, management, and response activities.
This includes the further development and evaluation of techniques and strategies to prevent or control CWD in
farmed and wild cervid populations. APHIS funded 27 States and 5 Tribes, 1 Tribal Organization, and 1 State
university. The State university agreement was to conduct wild cervid surveillance on Tribal lands.
APHIS also coordinates a voluntary cervid TB herd accreditation program. Herds that participate in the cervid TB
herd accreditation program must test all cervids in the herd over 12 months of age. They must also have negative TB
results from two rounds of testing 9 to 15 months apart using either the Dual Path Platform (DPP) test or the Single
Cervical Test (SCT) for their herd to be classified as accredited free. Herds must retest every three years thereafter
to remain accredited. In 2022, approximately 7,600 animals were TB tested using the DPP blood test and 1,600
using the SCT. Of the cervids tested using DPP, 72 were identified as suspects on the first round of testing, and 25
were classified as reactors based on the second round of testing. Of the cervids tested using SCT, 7 suspects were
identified on the first round of testing, and none were classified as reactors on the follow up test. 25 DPP reactors
were necropsied, and their tissues were tested by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). APHIS determined
one of those reactors was infected with TB and the herd was depopulated. All other reactors were negative for TB.
In 2022, APHIS continued a project to evaluate the DPP test (approved in 2012, as a primary TB test for elk, red
deer, white-tailed deer, reindeer, and fallow deer) for use as a primary and secondary TB test in mule and sika deer.
The DPP test is a serologic test that performs comparable to skin tests with the added advantage of reducing animal
handling and associated morbidity and mortality; its use is expected to enhance TB surveillance in these two species.
The project uses samples that accredited veterinarians submit for TB herd certification purposes. The project
requires the collection of 306 samples from each species submitted in accordance with APHIS guidelines. The
Agency will consider tests conducted as part of the project to be official TB tests. As of the end of 2022, 215 mule
deer and 69 sika deer were tested as part of the project. All animals tested negative.
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Equines
APHIS collaborates with Federal, State, and industry partners to protect the equine industry from disease, improve
the health of our domestic herd, and protect human health. These activities improve trade and facilitate equine
movement, which are vital to maintaining the industry’s economic value. APHIS provides veterinary support and
consultation to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program
through an interagency cooperative agreement.
APHIS provides expertise and helps develop the industry’s National Equine Health Plan. The plan functions as a
roadmap for owners, veterinarians, and industry organizations to coordinate with State and Federal animal health
officials to recognize, prevent, control, and respond to diseases. APHIS integrates the roles of the State and Federal
health officials with industry stakeholders to improve both equine health and the industry by decreasing the impact
of infectious disease on the horse economy.
In 2022, APHIS provided oversight and epidemiological support in response to 18 cases of EP in 5 States and 68
cases of EIA in 12 States. Additionally, maintained certification and annual proficiency testing for 20 equine viral
arteritis laboratories, 12 EP laboratories, and 13 CEM laboratories, and additionally certified and conducted annual
proficiency testing for 392 EIA laboratories. APHIS also participated in the Agricultural Research Services’ VSV
Grand Challenge project with two peer-reviewed publications completed in 2022.
6. National Veterinary Stockpile
The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS), overseen by APHIS’ Field Operations Logistics Center, serves as the
primary source of materials, supplies, and equipment for the response to, control of, and containment of significant
animal disease outbreaks. The NVS has two primary objectives. The first is to deploy countermeasures, within 24
hours of approval, against the most damaging animal diseases including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI),
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), virulent Newcastle disease (vND), classical swine fever (CSF), and African swine
fever (ASF). The second objective is to assist States, Tribes, and Territories with planning, training, and exercises
for the rapid request, receipt, processing, and distribution of NVS countermeasures during an event. The NVS works
with States, tribes, and territories to develop their logistics plans, conduct logistics training, and organize full-scale
logistics exercises.
The NVS continuously evaluates its inventory of supplies and replaces expired inventory. The NVS deployed
supplies, equipment and contractor support to States responding to HPAI outbreaks across the U.S. In 2022, the
NVS acquired additional equipment to assist in poultry disposal during the HPAI outbreak and completed its efforts
to refurbish its legacy fleet of 13 foam depopulation units.
The NVS purchased additional supplies to support response efforts to the outbreak of African swine Fever in the
Dominican Republic and Haiti, detected in July 2021. These efforts include widespread testing, targeted
depopulation, and enhanced biosecurity in the continental United States and across Hispaniola, to prevent further
spread and possible transmission to the United States. In 2022, the NVS shipped animal handling equipment,
depopulation equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Dominican Republic and provided supplies
to Puerto Rico in support of ASF enhanced surveillance activities.
The NVS coordinates and supports activities with States, tribes, and territories to improve logistical readiness in the
event of an animal disease outbreak. Traditionally, logistical readiness activities are conducted in person with
stakeholders. The NVS began hosting these events via webinar as a result COVID-19 social distancing protocols in
2020 and 2021. In 2022, the NVS to returned to conducting some of these training exercises in-person. In 2022, the
NVS conducted a logistics-based full-scale exercise with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and
Forestry which validated the state’s ability to respond logistically to a foreign animal disease outbreak. The exercise
included receiving, staging, and storing placebo FMD vaccine. In addition, tabletop exercises were conducted with
Maine and Missouri. The NVS also delivered several virtual veterinary stockpile presentations to States preparing
for a HPAI response which included representatives from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, and New
Hampshire. These activities supported APHIS and participating stakeholders and partners in refining their
preparedness procedures. NVS continues to conduct exercises and trainings in resource deployment and response
preparedness to animal health events in 2023.
APHIS continued to maintain the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank (NAFMDVB) as part of
the agency’s animal health readiness initiative in 2022. The NAFMDVB is a vaccine stockpile that the United States
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and Canada cooperatively support. Each country has contributed funding to acquire vaccine and maintain a stockpile
of vaccine concentrate, from which FMD vaccine is derived. Canada and the United States continue to ensure that
the Bank maintains stocks of vaccine concentrate and conducts necessary quality assurance testing. A portion of
NVS funding was used to acquire new antigen for FMD preparedness.
7. S
wine Health
APHIS’ Swine Health Program protects the health and improves the quality, productivity, and economic viability of
the swine industry. The 2021 production value of the swine industry was approximately $29 billion (USDA,
National Agricultural Statistics Service). In addition, the program facilitates trade in swine and pork products, and
addresses swine health issues at the human-swine interface and between wildlife and domestic swine. APHIS
activities include comprehensive and integrated swine surveillance, emergency preparedness and response planning,
disease investigation and control activities, zoonotic disease prevention and response, swine health studies and
special projects, collaborations on emerging issues, and outreach and communication with stakeholders. In addition,
the Agency maintains regulatory and programmatic guidelines that direct activities at the Federal, State, and Tribal
levels. Establishing and maintaining national standards support interstate and international commerce by ensuring
the health of animals and products being moved or traded.
APHIS collects swine samples from various surveillance streams as part of a comprehensive integrated surveillance
approach to detect swine diseases that could substantially affect domestic producers and the national economy.
Comprehensive integrated surveillance includes field work and epidemiological investigations, designated
surveillance streams, veterinary diagnostic laboratory infrastructure, data management systems, and methodologies
for data analysis and reporting. APHIS collects samples and data from veterinary diagnostic laboratories, slaughter
plants, high-risk producer premises, livestock markets, and feral swine during population elimination projects.
Surveillance testing supports the swine industry by assuring trading partners and other stakeholders of the status of
swine diseases in the United States. Comprehensive surveillance enables APHIS to maintain effective surveillance
using a risk-based approach that targets high-risk samples and reduces costs.
For several years, APHIS has closely followed African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly viral
disease of domestic and wild pigs, as it spread across Asia and Europe. Currently, the only known control strategy is
to depopulate all affected or exposed swine herds. Early detection is the key to controlling, containing, and
eliminating ASF. APHIS has instituted a series of interlocking safeguards to prevent ASF from entering the United
States and is working closely with States and industry to develop and refine plans in case of an outbreak.
In the event of ASF entry to the U.S swine population, enhanced surveillance and diagnostic testing strategies will
be critical to facilitate progressive response and eradication of the disease. In 2022, APHIS successfully evaluated
ASF diagnosis using aggregate oral fluid samples through experimental studies at the Agency’s Foreign Animal
Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL). Compared to individual animal sampling, oral fluid collection for active
surveillance is a non-invasive alternative that is less resource and time-intensive. The results from the evaluation
suggest that oral fluid samples may be used to supplement traditional samples for rapid detection of ASF virus. The
program also completed an evaluation of a sample pooling method (blood, tissue) which may enhance ASF
diagnosis and surveillance. Finally, APHIS released and continually maintains a public reporting tool for external
stakeholders to monitor the progress of the ASF/Classical Swine Fever (CSF) surveillance program.
S
ince 2021, APHIS has been sponsoring and supporting a pilot project with Iowa State University entitled
“Development and Demonstration of a U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan” (SHIP) modelled after the National
Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)”. Its objective is to develop a certification program for high-consequence swine
diseases. The pilot provides a framework to further safeguard the swine industry by ensuring active and effective
nationwide surveillance and the ability to quickly regionalize and quarantine infected areas. The framework enables
the Agency to assure trading partners and consumers about the status of these diseases and the health of unaffected
areas. U.S. pork producers and packing facilities in participating States that meet specified requirements can
voluntarily enroll in the program. In 2022, APHIS oversaw the second phase implementation of the project which
included: increasing membership in the pilot’s House of Delegates (a forum of industry stakeholders); standing up
Official State Agencies and beginning enrollment of swine premises; continuing technical working groups drafting
program standards and resolutions in areas such as sampling and diagnostics, traceability, and biosecurity; and
hosting the second annual House of Delegates meeting in September 2022. The pilot project team has developed a
system of enrolled farm sites and packing facilities that meet well-defined biosecurity standards. The team also
developed traceability testing requirements for participating States. In 2022, APHIS continued to provide policy,
technical, and funding support for the pilot, and has initiated the rulemaking process to codify the program.
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In 2022, APHIS tested 95,642 samples for pseudorabies virus (PRV) and swine brucellosis (SBR). Testing results
received by September 30, 2022, confirmed that all commercial swine herds continue to be free from PRV and SBR,
although these diseases continue to be found in non-commercial herds after exposure to feral swine. In 2022, all
non-commercial herd tests that were positive for PRV and SBR were animals found through an alternate
surveillance program, which targets higher-risk facilities and those that slaughter higher-risk swine. Complete 2022
herd data will be available in March 2023 after States complete investigations and data has been verified. In all test-
positive cases, APHIS and States investigate and quarantine infected herds, conduct outbreak testing to determine
herd disease levels, and depopulate or remove infected animals through a test-and-removal strategy to eliminate
disease risk from these herds. These efforts protect commercial herds that may be exposed to infected backyard
herds.
APHIS performed slightly fewer foreign animal disease (FAD) investigations in swine in 2022 compared to 2021,
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the focus on the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak. In 2022, APHIS
performed 1,337 FAD investigations in swine, and all were negative. A total of 1,261 of the investigations were for
vesicular diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and 76 were for hemorrhagic fever. Swine hemorrhagic
FAD investigations continued to increase significantly, particularly in Puerto Rico, due to the ASF outbreak in the
Dominican Republic and Haiti.
APHIS continued an ASF/CSF combined hemorrhagic fever surveillance program in 2022, testing 23,783 samples
at the NAHLN, and 6,129 CSF-only serum samples at the Agency’s FADDL (82 percent from feral swine and 18
from high-risk domestic swine). CSF remains eradicated from the United States. On July 15, 2022, APHIS updated
the Swine Hemorrhagic Fevers: African and Classical Swine Fevers Integrated Surveillance Plan to reflect program
enhancements. The Agency developed the initial surveillance plan in 2019 to further its ASF preparedness efforts.
These updates reflect additional measures implemented in 2022, particularly in light of the ASF outbreak in the DR
and Haiti. The plan also includes updated case definitions, adds whole blood as an approved sample type, and
clarifies information about data sources.
Swine can harbor several zoonotic disease agents, such as swine influenza (IAV-S) and SBR. In such cases, State
public health and animal health officials conduct investigations, and request support from APHIS and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when warranted. Joint animal health and public health investigations
support the One-Health concept and strengthen APHIS’ ability to respond when both animal and human health
might be compromised. In 2022, State public health officials reported nine human variant influenza A cases in
eight States (Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia, and Wisconsin). Five
of the nine individuals reported exposure to swine, and two did not know whether they were exposed to swine.
State public health and animal health officials led the investigation of these outbreaks but did not request
assistance from APHIS for any further assessments. Many States and local public health officials find information
derived from whole genome sequencing helpful in their investigations. APHIS and ARS have established a
program to help States and industry identify isolates from the swine associated with these outbreaks. In 2022, 505
IAV-S samples were entered into this program. States and industry enter genetic sequences from the samples
tested in this program into GenBank, a publicly accessible genomic database that provides the scientific
community with comprehensive DNA sequence information to support diagnostic test and vaccine development.
APHIS has the responsibility under the Swine Health Protection Act (SHPA) to license and inspect swine
production facilities that feed cooked garbage to swine, and to conduct searches for unlicensed facilities that may
illegally feed raw garbage to swine. In addition, the SHPA authorizes States to have primary enforcement
responsibility, which provides authority to regulate the feeding of garbage to swine. If a State fails to meet the
SHPA enforcement requirements, APHIS may assume the responsibility in the State. Feeding untreated or
improperly treated garbage could transmit infectious diseases such as ASF, FMD, or CSF to swine. In 2022,
seven States held enforcement responsibility and APHIS held enforcement responsibility for two States, Puerto
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The remaining 18 States that allow the feeding of cooked garbage to swine
maintain a cooperative Federal/State enforcement program. In 2022, APHIS supported 2,110 inspections of licensed
premises and 4,035 searches for non-licensed facilities. Through these searches, the Agency identified 14 non-
licensed feeders. APHIS worked with States to either bring unlicensed facilities into compliance or force them to
cease their illegal activities.
8. V
eterinary Biologics
APHIS’ Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) regulates veterinary biological products under the Virus-Serum-
Toxin Act to ensure that these products are pure, safe, potent, and effective. Manufacturers develop these products,
which include vaccines, bacterins, antisera, diagnostic test kits, and analogous products to prevent, diagnose, and
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treat animal diseases in a wide variety of animal species. The CVB develops regulations concerning the production
and licensing of veterinary biologics, evaluates pre-licensing dossiers and issuance of licenses and permits, tests
products submitted for licensure, inspects facilities and products, approves product certifications, investigates non-
compliance, and conducts post-marketing surveillance to ensure that manufacturers comply with all relevant
regulations and policies. This comprehensive regulatory approach is the most effective way to ensure that only
quality, federally licensed veterinary biological products are available to U.S. consumers and for U.S. export
markets, and it plays an essential role in protecting animal health and agriculture.
From 2020 through 2022, the CVB hired 23 additional staff to better address current and changing industry needs.
With the increased staffing, APHIS is helping to ensure an effective, efficient, and responsive veterinary biologics
program that can provide timely approvals and availability of veterinary vaccines, diagnostics, and other novel
biologics to protect animal and public health and enhance export opportunities for U.S. veterinary biologics
companies. In 2022, the Agency needed an average of 523 workdays to issue a license for a veterinary biologic
product. This represented a 32 percent increase from 2021’s average of 397 workdays. The increased turnaround
times can be attributable to retirements and vacancies in critical positions, training of new personnel, deployment of
staff to respond to the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, and the request by the biologics industry to
extend the implementation period for single-tier product to April 2022.
Licensed Products and Inspections
APHIS licenses and inspects facilities to ensure that all veterinary biological products produced and distributed
within, imported into, or exported from the United States are of the highest quality, and are not worthless,
contaminated, dangerous, or harmful. Before the Agency began regulating these biologics, farmers and animal
health officials found products to be ineffective or contaminated with harmful diseases, including foreign animal
diseases. While most of the time required in the licensing process is in the control of the potential licensee in
developing manufacturing processes and conducting required studies, the CVB analyzes data and conducts
confirmatory testing before issuing licenses. To reduce the burden on the regulated industry, CVB has, over recent
years, streamlined required information collection under specific circumstances and implemented electronic
submissions for most required regulatory submissions.
All countries require import and export certificates to certify that products are prepared in accordance with the
Virus-Serum-Toxin Act. In 2022, APHIS reviewed/processed 3,509 Certificates of Licensing and Inspection and
reviewed/processed 1,921 export certificates for veterinary biological products. The Agency processed all export
certificates within 4 days (the 2022 average was 1.5 days), and all certificates of licensing and inspection within 28
days (the 2022 average was 17.3 days). Timely processing helps ensure that markets are accessible for
manufacturers who export their product. APHIS also helped ensure there were no foreign animal disease events
related to the importation of more than 428 million doses of biological products, a 3 percent decrease from 2021, in
the number of doses imported.
In 2022, APHIS received 85 applications for new and renewal licenses/permits and issued 18 licenses/permits for
the prevention, diagnosis, management, or cure of existing or new/emerging animal diseases. This data depends on
the biologics manufacturers and is outside CVB’s control. The Agency licensed 86 manufacturers and permittees for
1,448 active product licenses/permits for the control of 278 animal diseases in 2022. These products are vital for
protecting American agriculture, facilitating trade, and enhancing agricultural economic opportunities.
APHIS’ National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) Portal allows real-time communication and data exchange
between APHIS and biologics manufacturers, reducing the time and costs for application review. In 2022, the
Agency provided four new licensed firms with access to the NCAH Portal2. APHIS continued to enhance the Portal
for more comprehensive electronic submissions and two-way data exchange. By the end of 2022, 94 percent of
licensed firms and permittees were using the NCAH Portal. This resulted in CVB receiving 99 percent of marketing
documents, 98 percent of biographical summaries, 91 percent of licensing correspondence, and 68 percent of
inspection and compliance correspondence through the Portal. In 2022, the Portal received 87 percent of export
certificates and 94 percent of facility documents. Import permits submitted electronically represented 99 percent of
Research and Evaluation Permits, 100 percent of Transit Permits, and 54 percent of Sales and Distribution Permits.
In total, CVB received 36,631 submissions from the Portal in 2022, as opposed to 37,321 in 2021. Overall, 92
percent of 2022 CVB submissions were received through the Portal.
Each year, APHIS inspects an average of 50 biologics facilities to assure compliance with regulations. Despite
COVID-19 travel restrictions, this number increased in 2022. In addition to the innovative ways in which the CVB
has been conducting inspections virtually to allow for timely oversight and approval of new and remodeled biologics
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manufacturing facilities due to COVID-19, the Center also resumed on-site inspections. In 2022, APHIS conducted
68 inspections, of which 59 were on-site and 9 were virtual.
In 2022, APHIS continued implementing the single-tier labeling rule, which changes the efficacy descriptions for
veterinary biologics to a single, uniform label claim. This simpler format better communicates product performance,
saves time and money for the manufacturer, and aligns U.S. labeling with international markets. In addition, APHIS
clearly defined policy to allow the use of platform and prescription vaccines. These policies allow stakeholders to
quickly change vaccines to match emerging and changing pathogen threats with very limited risk to people, animals,
or the environment. In 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to cause unexpected supply chain issues related to
accessing vials, containers, cartons, and labeling materials used for labeling final biologics products. Because of
these delays, the CVB granted a request by manufacturers to extend the use of currently approved labels through
April 30, 2023.
APHIS continued to implement a Virus-Serum-Toxin Act regulation in 2022, requiring all veterinary biologics
licensees and permittees to submit reports to the CVB concerning adverse events associated with the use of
biological products they produce or distribute domestically and internationally. An adverse event is any illness,
reaction, or other undesirable occurrence after the use of an immunobiological product, whether the product caused
the event. For diagnostics products, adverse events include anything that hinders the discovery of the correct
diagnosis. Adverse event reports are a vital component of CVB’s mission to ensure that veterinary biologics,
including those marketed internationally, comply with regulations. In 2022, CVB continued working to improve the
quality of data submitted by manufacturers. In response to the mandatory reporting requirement, CVB received
68,213 adverse event reports in 2022. This represented a 58 percent increase from the 43,092 that CVB received in
2021. APHIS also performed 201 regulatory actions, issued 30 violation notices, and conducted 16 investigations of
possible violations. More than 99 percent of the unlicensed entities investigated either moved toward product
licensure or ceased the objectionable activity.
Collaborative Efforts
APHIS promotes U.S. policy for the oversight of biologics as a regulatory model for both established and
developing markets, and it improves the worldwide marketability of USDA-licensed biologics. The Agency
participated in harmonization efforts with major trading partners including Japan and the European Union through
the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary
Medicinal Products. Additionally, CVB participates in the Veterinary International Conference on Harmonization’s
(VICH) Outreach Forum. This forum promotes the use of VICH harmonized guidelines in countries with developing
regulatory systems for veterinary medicinal products. To further improve the marketability of USDA-licensed
biologics in overseas markets, CVB worked with the industry to create and issue an Inspection Certificate program
which provides Good Manufacturing Practices certificates that align with regulatory authorities and facilitate the
marketing of U.S. prepared products in the international arena. In 2022, APHIS provided expertise and training at a
joint Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics education program. This program was made
available through in-person and virtual sessions to educate domestic and international industry personnel and foreign
officials on U.S. regulatory processes. The program promotes U.S. policy as a regulatory model for both established
and developing markets, and it improves worldwide marketability of USDA-licensed biologics.
9. Veterinary Diagnostics
Laboratory and diagnostic services are essential components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure. The Veterinary
Diagnostics line item provides partial funding for the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), which
consists of laboratories in Ames, Iowa and Plum Island, New York. The NVSL is recognized by the World
Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization as an international reference
laboratory for significant animal diseases, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD), and rinderpest. In 2022, the WOAH accepted new NVSL Reference Laboratory experts for swine influenza,
vesicular stomatitis, and contagious equine metritis. Additionally, WOAH accepted NVSL’s request to add three
new WOAH Reference Laboratories for African swine fever (ASF), chronic wasting disease, and mammalian
tuberculosis. NVSL currently maintains WOAH reference laboratory status for 14 diseases of veterinary
significance. NVSL provides diagnostic test services ranging from a single laboratory test to comprehensive services
covering many pathogens for suspected outbreaks of domestic and foreign animal diseases (FADs). The Veterinary
Diagnostics line item also supports the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), which is an animal
disease surveillance and monitoring system that interconnects Federal and State laboratory resources to improve the
security of the nation’s livestock by providing disease diagnostics both daily and at increased levels during
outbreaks. In addition, this line item supports efforts to stand up the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
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(NBAF) in Kansas which will help protect the nation’s agriculture, farmers, and citizens against the threat and
potential impact of serious FADs. NBAF will replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). The
diagnostic testing funded by this line item can rapidly confirm the presence or absence of a particular animal disease
and promptly provide decision makers with vital information that could have significant trade impacts and prevent
or mitigate the spread of devastating animal diseases.
National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Diagnostic testing and confirmation of surveillance samples improves the security of the nation’s livestock. NVSL is
often on the forefront of emerging and re-emerging diseases of concern including ASF, virulent Newcastle disease
virus, tilapia lake virus, infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus, Senecavirus A (SVA), bluetongue,
vesicular stomatitis virus, and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. In 2022, NVSL managed more than 264,511
diagnostic tests and approximately 41,073 accessions (one or more diagnostic samples received from the same
submitter on the same day). In 2022, NVSL maintained a web-based portal for entering sample information to
minimize the manual re-entry of this information. The laboratories produced and shipped more than 99,000 reagent
order items representing approximately 550 types of products. Many of these products are only available to
stakeholders through APHIS. In 2022, NVSL continued implementing a new laboratory inventory system called
DARBI (Diagnostic and Research Biomaterial Inventory) that is being used during the sequestration of biological
materials from PIADC to NBAF, with eventual use at NVSL as part of a new Laboratory Information Management
System (LIMS). The initial phase of the LIMS project will focus on the collection of fees for requested testing,
sample processing, reporting, and developing workflows for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and ELISA (Enzyme-
linked immunosorbent assay) tests. A PCR test is used to detect the genetic material of infectious agents, while an
ELISA test can be used to detect antibodies and other proteins in the blood. APHIS expects that this new system will
improve efficiency.
In 2022, NVSL supported international capacity building and collaborative activities in Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Republic of Gambia, Germany,
Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Romania,
Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. In 2022, NVSL’s Foreign Animal Disease
Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) supported three FAD diagnostician refresher training courses involving State and
Federal participants, including military veterinarians; other in-person scheduled courses at the PIADC were
postponed due to COVID-19. In collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), APHIS worked
on a strategy to improve and harmonize available diagnostic methods to enhance North American ASF
preparedness.
In 2022, NVSL tested 15,470 samples for 3,002 FAD accessions across 45 States and territories. Since 2014, APHIS
has experienced a significant increase in FAD investigations, largely due to the emergence of SVA, a non-fatal
infectious disease of pigs reported across the United States and Canada, as well as in Australia, Brazil, and New
Zealand. Because the clinical signs are highly similar to those caused by FMD, APHIS must diagnose each case to
exclude FMD. Testing all samples at FADDL for FMD and SVA is time consuming, resource intensive, and
decreases FADDL’s ability to develop new assays or perform other testing. The NAHLN serves as a resource to
enable moving high-volume testing with confidence. In this case, SVA and FMD PCR results (if negative for FMD)
from NAHLN laboratories can be considered final and actionable for the field. NAHLN laboratories continue to
submit duplicate samples from all cases to FADDL which retested 5 percent for quality assurance. The use of an
FMD/SVA multiplex assay in the NAHLN laboratories that facilitates simultaneous testing for both diseases from a
single sample has saved time, money, and resources.
The Agency conducts proficiency testing of Federal, State, and university-sponsored laboratories when these
laboratories perform authorized diagnostic testing as part of APHIS-approved surveillance and/or response
programs. This is done to ensure that they use standardized, rapid diagnostic techniques and to maintain the
credibility of U.S. diagnostic test results in the international marketplace. In 2022, APHIS made 32 types of
proficiency panels available to international, Federal, State, and private laboratories, both within and outside the
NAHLN network. APHIS made the necessary controls and reference strains available for approximately 200
diseases to help other laboratories develop and validate diagnostic tests. User fees cover the cost of some reagents
and proficiency panels. In 2022, NVSL finalized the Salmonella Group D proficiency test (PT), and distributed
results for the PT in late 2021. NVSL also developed a new Salmonella Group D structure to improve structure,
reduce cost, and increase ease of grading in 2022 based on customer feedback. In January 2022, NVSL completed
and administered the Caprine Scrapie Susceptibility Genotyping PT for the first time. NVSL developed the new PT
in response to increased industry need for laboratories to be approved in testing for certain goat diseases. As a result
of this PT, diagnostic testing has been streamlined based on sample numbers and timing of testing.
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NVSL continues to encourage the development of collaborative and other projects to advance NVSL’s expertise.
Currently, NVSL personnel have collaborative projects with other Federal agencies such as the Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; State governments such as the
Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Texas Animal Health Commission; universities nationwide; and
international laboratories such as the CFIA and WOAH reference laboratories in Brazil and the Netherlands. These
projects have resulted in new epidemiologic insights and improved diagnostic capabilities.
National Animal Health Laboratory Network
The Veterinary Diagnostics program also supports the NAHLN, which serves as a vital early warning system for
foreign and emerging animal diseases. This support includes limited infrastructure in NAHLN laboratories; NAHLN
program staff; the APHIS Laboratory Portal, which provides a secure means of communication for NAHLN
laboratories and proficiency test management for NAHLN and non-NAHLN APHIS-approved laboratories;
personnel to provide information management system support for electronic messaging; and online quality
management training the NAHLN laboratories use to maintain qualifications for participating in the network. In
2022, the NAHLN celebrated 20 years of safeguarding animal health. NVSL trains NAHLN laboratory personnel to
ensure proficiency and standardization for performing diagnostic tests. As of September 30, 2022, the NAHLN
consisted of 59 State, Federal, and university veterinary diagnostic laboratories in 42 States. These laboratories work
with the NVSL reference laboratories to test for 14 economically devastating and/or FADs and potential zoonotic
diseases. These include FMD, influenza in avian and swine species, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, ASF, and
classical swine fever (CSF). In 2022, network laboratories performed approximately 340,000 diagnostic tests, an
increase of 80,000 tests, to support APHIS’ animal health surveillance and response programs for NAHLN scope
diseases, including the NAHLN ASF/CSF active surveillance. NAHLN program staff conduct exercises to prepare
participating laboratories for animal disease outbreak scenarios and enable them to remain proficient in animal
disease testing. It also enables them to generate rapid, local preliminary diagnostic results while NVSL performs
confirmatory testing.
APHIS has established various communication mechanisms to enable NAHLN program staff to efficiently exchange
information between and among member laboratories and State and Federal officials. One method for gathering
input on the network’s function includes the NAHLN Coordinating Council, which consists of NAHLN laboratory
directors, State animal health officials, and officials from APHIS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
A laboratory designation system reflects different capability levels for surveillance, preparedness, and emergency
response preparation. NAHLN laboratories designated as Level-1, -2, or -3 receive infrastructure support from
USDA, and conduct fee-for-service testing for the USDA. The Council approved 32 Level-1 laboratories including 9
branch laboratories, 22 Level-2 laboratories including 2 branch laboratories, 4 Level-3 laboratories, and 1 Federal
Affiliate laboratory. The NAHLN Coordinating Council continued to maintain electronic messaging as a priority in
the laboratory assessments for designation. Overall, 56 laboratories were capable of messaging results for approved
NAHLN assays in 2022, and APHIS projects that number will increase to 59 laboratories in 2023.
As of September 30, 2022, 30 NAHLN laboratories report they are capable of testing for SARS-CoV-2, and 7 report
they are capable of testing human samples. The number of NAHLN laboratories capable of testing for SARS-CoV-2
can fluctuate since laboratories must be certified to test human specimens and may decide not to maintain this
certification. NAHLN laboratories test only at the direction of the State animal and public health authorities and
submit any presumptive positive animal samples to NVSL for confirmation.
African Swine Fever Diagnostic Preparedness
APHIS continues to expand its rapid detection capability to maintain a timely, effective response and build surge
capacity in case of an ASF outbreak. APHIS engaged in collaborative efforts at FADDL and across the NAHLN to
strengthen ASF diagnostic preparedness. To enhance capacity in the NAHLN, FADDL provided proficiency testing
to NAHLN laboratories, expanding its ASF testing capacity in 2022 from 48 to 49 approved laboratories. APHIS
also added 2 laboratories for a total of 12 NAHLN laboratories performing ASF/CSF active surveillance. NAHLN is
collaborating with FADDL on plans to deploy an ASF serological assay to NAHLN laboratories. APHIS has
completed a standard operating procedure for distribution and a study using a commercial serologic assay kit that
has been initiated in two NAHLN laboratories. FADDL developed a PCR multiplex in 2022 to be deployed to the
active ASF/CSF surveillance laboratories in 2023. The NAHLN Methods Technical Working Group evaluated a
company’s ASF PCR reagents that were recently licensed for use in the United States and recommended to use this
kit if needed for outbreak testing with appropriate deviation, and the NAHLN is working with vendors to maintain
needed inventory and consider stockpiling or rolling inventory options. In addition, APHIS approved spleen and
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blood swabs as well as blood cards as additional sample types. This will streamline both sample collection in the
field and sample processing time in the laboratory. APHIS determined that these samples will be recommended for
use in NAHLN laboratories during an outbreak to increase capacity and high throughput testing and can be used in
FAD investigations for ASF testing if samples approved for CSF testing are also submitted. Also in 2022, NAHLN
worked with APHIS’ Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health modeling team to complete a project estimating
laboratory testing expectations during an ASF outbreak. APHIS is using this information to help define the
capability and capacity needs as we prepare to respond to a potential ASF outbreak. The Agency continues to
develop strategies to use oral fluids to achieve early and rapid detection of positive cases.
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
In 2022, APHIS continued to work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ARS to plan for the move
from the PIADC in New York to the state-of-the-art NBAF in Kansas. In addition, USDA and DHS continued
planning for the transfer of NBAF management and oversight from DHS to USDA. PIADC, home to FADDL, is the
only U.S. laboratory that is permitted to work with virulent FMD virus and hold rinderpest virus. In addition,
FADDL is the custodian of the North American FMD Vaccine Bank and now manages the U.S. National Animal
Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, as outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill. NBAF will be a key national
asset to protect the U.S. animal agriculture industry and the first and only U.S. facility with large animal Biosafety
Level-4 (BSL-4) containment capability. In 2023, NBAF ownership will transfer to ARS, with both ARS and
APHIS having responsibilities on operational aspects of the facility and for their own science programs. The mission
transfer from PIADC is planned to be completed in 2025.
In 2022, APHIS and ARS continued to develop a workforce of subject matter experts in foreign, emerging, and
zoonotic diseases to conduct diagnostics in preparation for the NBAF transition. Workforce development is critical,
given the significant loss of expertise expected during the transition and the need to transfer FAD diagnostic
institutional knowledge to the NBAF. While USDA can train diagnosticians to perform specific tests, interpreting
unclear results and troubleshooting diagnostic assays when they do not perform properly requires a high level of
experience. Additionally, APHIS anticipated a potentially significant expertise gap, particularly during the first 5 to
10 years of operations at NBAF, based on the time required to develop expertise in this area. To address this
possible workforce gap, APHIS is continuing the NBAF Scientist Training Program to meet the needs for subject
matter experts in foreign animal and zoonotic diseases. Through this workforce development program, USDA is
developing personnel to fill NBAF positions through continued service agreements. This program is critical because
subject matter expertise and international recognition in FAD diagnostics take years to develop, yet not all the
current FADDL workforce with that expertise is expected to relocate to NBAF. This development program will help
preserve and transfer the U.S. FAD diagnostic institutional knowledge to NBAF. By the end of 2022, the program
had accepted 24 fellows from 14 universities nationwide: there are currently 13 fellows enrolled including 3 fellows
with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)/PhD and 10 fellows with a PhD. Furthermore, 11 fellows (5
DVM/PhD fellows, 4 PhD, 2 MS) have successfully graduated and joined the Federal workforce at FADDL. APHIS
also supported the NBAF Laboratorian Training Program (NLTP) to train future NBAF laboratory technicians. As
of the end of 2022, 39 students had completed the NLTP. In 2022, APHIS partnered with Texas Tech University to
expand the NLTP partnership to include basic laboratory techniques and animal handling. Planning is underway to
extend the program to include Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Besides Texas Tech University,
students in this program are coming from multiple Hispanic-Serving Institutions including the University of
Wyoming, Berry College, Auburn University, Tarleton State University, Sam Houston State University, and
Midwestern State University.
In addition, NVSL established collaborations with international partners in countries that have endemic high-
consequence transboundary animal and zoonotic disease threats to mitigate the possibility that these diseases will
cross over to other countries, particularly the United States. These collaborations included the Global Partnership for
Animal and Zoonotic Disease Surveillance with nine partner laboratories in seven countries, with plans to expand;
regional genomic ASF surveillance in West Africa in partnership with African Center of Excellence for Genomics
of Infectious Diseases; a research Alliance for Veterinary Science and Biodefense BSL-3 Network (RAV3N)
coordinated by Texas A&M University involving 18 U.S. BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories jointly funded with ARS;
and a NAHLN-NBAF Partnership to develop a regional NAHLN laboratory approach to enhance NBAF and
NAHLN agro-defense capabilities.
APHIS prioritized certain science positions for hiring before 2022. Most of these positions are training on FADDL-
specific assay protocols and instrumentation systems at PIADC, before transitioning to NBAF. APHIS is placing the
remaining positions at NBAF, since they are critical to developing standard operating procedures, ordering
equipment and supplies, developing the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation
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paperwork, and helping with the select agent registration process. The overarching responsibilities of all priority
hires include the validation of the space for workflows and laboratory practices for both select agent registration and
ISO 17025 accreditation, as well as proficiency in the required equipment care, use, and calibration to meet ISO
accreditation and biosafety standards.
10. Zoonotic Disease Management
“One Health” is a collaborative, multisectoral, and trans-disciplinary approach—working at the local, regional,
national, and global levels—with the goal to achieve optimal health outcomes while recognizing the interconnection
between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. The Zoonotic Disease Management Program
enhances State, national, and international collaborative efforts to promote healthy animals, people, and ecosystems
by addressing zoonotic diseases (those that pass between animals and people) and other relevant One Health issues.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Organisation for Animal
Health (WOAH), 60 percent of human pathogens are zoonotic, and 75 percent of emerging diseases are zoonotic
(including Ebola, Zika, MERS, and SARS). Most zoonotic diseases originate from animal reservoirs. APHIS leads
the national effort to address the animal health component of the One Health approach. The Agency contributes
animal health expertise, infrastructure, and networks in combination with those of human and environmental health
to provide holistic solutions to complex One Health problems. The Agency collaborates with industry and State
partners to develop strategies, policies, and training to help stakeholders effectively engage with public health
counterparts, provide guidance, facilitate information exchange, and enhance responses to One Health issues. By
enhancing APHIS’ efforts to address the animal health component of One Health, the program protects public health
and improves animal health and marketability. Additionally, APHIS coordinates and reports USDA’s international
efforts related to implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), a partnership of over 70 nations,
international organization, and non-governmental stakeholders to minimize the threat of infectious diseases on the
world stage. APHIS coordinates GHSA reporting on zoonotic disease, antimicrobial resistance, biosafety and
biosecurity, national laboratory systems, and real time disease surveillance, ensuring interagency collaboration and
communication with relevant agencies and stakeholders, both international and domestic.
Zoonotic Disease and One Health Engagement, Investigation, and Response
In 2022, APHIS continued work on the Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Initiative. This initiative is composed of five
separate projects that address the challenges of bovine TB being introduced to U.S. national livestock herds from
outside sources. This work, led by APHIS, includes clinical trials to test the efficacy of TB vaccines in cattle and
deer, evaluation of new TB diagnostic tests, an in-depth epidemiological analysis of affected herd investigations,
and an acquisition of TB samples from other countries. In collaboration with public health partners focused on the
zoonotic aspects of TB, this work is set to address critical gaps in slaughter surveillance. In 2022, APHIS enrolled
and vaccinated over 1,400 calves across four dairies in a vaccine study in Baja California, Mexico. APHIS will
continue these vaccination efforts with the goal of enrolling and vaccinating 6,000 calves. APHIS established
agreements with the four dairies to share production and health data to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination. In
2022, APHIS began evaluating a test that will distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals and has the
potential to increase specificity over the current blood test. Additionally, APHIS focused on adding isolates from
Central America to the World M. bovis Genome Database by adding isolates from Honduras, Costa Rica, and
Guatemala. APHIS also assisted in the vaccination of free-ranging deer in Michigan to reduce the incidence of TB.
APHIS worked with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to develop an effective bait-based delivery
system for use in free-ranging white-tailed deer. APHIS and ARS are currently working stabilize the vaccine and to
provide a carrier to incorporate into field deployable baits.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a microbe to resist the effects of medication previously used to treat
them. To combat AMR, APHIS uses a One Health approach involving multidisciplinary coordination from public
health and animal health sectors, and private sector organizations and stakeholders. APHIS works with its State,
Federal, and industry partners to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials, which supports a strong, healthy, and
thriving U.S. animal agriculture system as well as public health. Additionally, APHIS collaborates with State
Departments of Agriculture, diagnostic laboratories, and public health officials to address AMR infections in
humans when an animal component is suspected.
In 2022, APHIS hosted a virtual meeting on antimicrobial resistance with over 400 attendees from various Federal,
State, industry groups. The meeting was a launching point for the Department to reevaluate the current USDA
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Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan. APHIS continues to participate in discussions about the future of
antimicrobial resistance activities across the Department, including efforts to develop practical mitigation strategies
to reduce AMR prevalence in human and animal health. These strategies cover a variety of efforts including AMR
monitoring at the farm level, collection of antimicrobial drug use data, and efforts to promote stewardship of
antimicrobial drugs by animal owners and veterinarians. In 2022, APHIS completed a study designed to provide a
snapshot of current feedlot cattle health management practices, including antimicrobial use and stewardship. The
information collected allows the Agency to analyze trends in specific topics related to cattle health, based on
previous feedlot studies. Additionally, APHIS launched a national study focusing on ranched bison health and
management. This study will be completed in 2023. APHIS also continued investigating antimicrobial use and
resistance trends in swine and poultry through collaborative projects.
APHIS continued a public-private partnership with Pipestone Veterinary Services to collect and analyze samples
from pigs and the environment, along with antimicrobial use monitoring on swine farms. In 2022, APHIS conducted
a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education to evaluate
data security options for the development of an antimicrobial resistance dashboard, including gathering stakeholder
input. APHIS also started a new cooperative agreement with the New York Farm Viability Institute to evaluate how
to change human behavior on dairy farms related to antimicrobial stewardship.
APHIS continued to engage with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-Center for Veterinary Medicine on their
approach to measure the use of antimicrobial drugs in food producing animals. APHIS also reported progress
updates to partner agencies on activities associated with the National Action Plan for Combating Antimicrobial
Resistance. In 2022, APHIS continued to participate on the Presidential Advisory Council for Combating Antibiotic
Resistant Bacteria, including participating in a Working Group on linking antimicrobial resistance activities to
pandemic preparedness. APHIS also presented information on our antimicrobial resistance activities at several
events including webinars hosted by the Farm Foundation, ARS, and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s
Annual Antibiotics Symposium.
In 2022, APHIS completed the fifth year of a pilot project for collecting antimicrobial susceptibility data from
veterinary diagnostic laboratories. This project is now transitioning to a long-term antimicrobial resistance
monitoring program. An interactive dashboard summarizing the results from the entire program was published on
the National Animal Health Laboratory Network website. This dashboard provides near-real time data on
susceptibility test results from 6 animal species and 8 bacterial pathogens. Susceptibility testing data from over
3,500 isolates and whole genome sequencing data from over 500 isolates were collected by the project. Progress on
this effort is reported quarterly as a USDA Agency Priority Goal for 2022 and 2023 online:
https://www.performance.gov/agencies/USDA/apg/goal-1/.
In 2022, APHIS continued to study 17 common Salmonella serotypes across all major animal groups, which
incorporated antimicrobial susceptibility testing. APHIS published two scientific articles on the prevalence
and resistance profiles of fecal Salmonella and Campylobacter for goat operations in the U.S., as well as
the prevalence and resistance profiles of fecal Salmonella and E. coli on equine operations. APHIS also worked
closely with the CDC to investigate human outbreaks of drug resistant bacterial organisms stemming from animal
origins. APHIS continues to be involved with the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS),
participating in a virtual public meeting highlighting the new strategic plan. In 2022, APHIS investigated
antimicrobial genes in Salmonella isolates submitted for serotyping from 2014-2017. Information from historical
isolates can serve as a useful comparison to recent observations. This investigation uncovered the emergence of a
multidrug resistant clone in multiple animal species. Additionally, APHIS tested 7,943 goat sera samples for
Coxiella burnetti antibodies. The results indicated an overall prevalence of 11.6 percent in domestic goats and a herd
prevalence of 21 percent in the United States.
APHIS participated in several international AMR activities in 2022. APHIS, along with FDA, submitted a report on
U.S. antibiotic use in animal agriculture to the WOAH Global Database on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use
in Animals in compliance with the international standards. APHIS reinvigorated the Animal Health Antimicrobial
Resistance Network, meeting bi-monthly with the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, to share
information about antimicrobial resistance. APHIS continues to participate in the Transatlantic Taskforce on
Antimicrobial Resistance. APHIS presented to Pakistan about the U.S. approach to collecting antimicrobial use data
through a voluntary approach with producers. APHIS continues to review AMR-related statements and positions
that stakeholders and other governmental and nongovernmental agencies promulgate that may have implications for
animal agriculture. For example, APHIS continues to monitor European Union (EU) legislation related to
antimicrobial use in animal agriculture, and potential implications for exporting animals and animal products to the
EU.
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One Health and Pandemic Disease Preparedness
APHIS continues to coordinate with cross sector partners to develop and implement national and international One
Health strategies and strengthen our emergency response capacities to ensure a quick response to zoonotic diseases.
In 2022, APHIS continued to participate in several multisectoral groups that emphasize the mission of One Health,
including the Interagency Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration (IFORC). IFORC develops and coordinates
Federal best practices for detection of foodborne outbreaks and interagency and public health communication
strategies and processes. Additionally, APHIS continues to participate in the North American Plan for Animal and
Pandemic Influenza Health Security working group. This group exchanges information on animal and human health
sector responses to SARS-CoV-2, include modeling, detection, diagnostic information and healthcare capacity and
capability data. In 2022, APHIS shared animal health information with the CDC on monkeypox, Japanese
encephalitis virus, and highly pathogenic avian influenza.
APHIS continues to use its position as a coordination leader on the national effort to address the animal health
component of One Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, APHIS tested 182 animals for SARS-CoV-2
representing 14 species across 47 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Test results were
reported to the WOAH as positive detections were identified, contributing to international knowledge of SARS-
CoV-2 infections in animals. APHIS subject matter experts continue to provide consultation and guidance to State
animal and public health agencies on decisions and testing of animal for SARS-CoV-2.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress - Plant Health:
1. Agricultural Quarantine Inspection
APHIS and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) safeguard U.S.
agricultural and natural resources from the introduction of invasive pests and diseases through the Agricultural
Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program. APHIS assesses the risks associated with international trade and specific
imported agricultural products and develops import regulations to exclude foreign pests and diseases and protect
U.S. agriculture. In addition, the Agency conducts off-shore pest risk reduction activities including foreign
commodity pre-clearance programs; trains agricultural inspectors and detector dog teams to work at U.S. ports of
entry; inspects and takes action as necessary on imported plant propagative materials; monitors the fumigation of
arriving containers and cargo to mitigate pest risks; conducts trade compliance activities to detect violations of
APHIS’ import regulations and prevent smuggling; and provides the scientific support necessary to carry out these
activities and those carried out by CBP, including, among other things, the authoritative and timely identification of
pests necessary to determine whether regulatory actions on imported products are required.
APHIS collects AQI user fees under the authority of The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990,
to recover costs for services provided by APHIS and CBP associated with preclearance inspections of passengers
and the port-of-entry arrival of commercial vessels, trucks, loaded railroad cars, aircraft, and passengers entering the
United States from a foreign destination. In 2022, AQI user fee collections increased over the previous year as travel
restrictions and requirements associated with COVID-19 were lifted or eased in many countries, including the
United States. However, collections were still approximately 25 percent lower than in 2019, the last full fiscal year
prior to the pandemic. To ensure that the program could continue operations to prevent the entry of foreign pests and
diseases, the 2022 Appropriations Act, Consolidated, provided $250 million for the AQI program. APHIS inspectors
oversee the preclearance of certain commodities by inspecting shipments for export in the country of origin,
monitoring treatments where required, or by monitoring systems approaches for pest mitigation (a combination of
integrated pest management practices used in the field and after harvest). In most cases, exporters of the pre-cleared
commodity cover the costs of this APHIS service through trust funds established for this purpose.
APHIS also receives appropriated funding for pre-departure inspections of passengers and cargo traveling from
Hawaii and Puerto Rico to the continental United States to prevent the introduction of non-native agricultural pests
and diseases into the continental United States while facilitating the movement of travelers and agricultural goods.
APHIS inspects all passenger baggage leaving these islands because of the risks associated with pests of fruits and
vegetables grown in these areas. When inspectors identify an item that poses a specific risk, they take immediate
action to prevent the entry of materials that could harbor the pest or disease in question. This action prevents damage
to the country’s agricultural industry and negates the need for cost control and eradication programs. APHIS also
partners with industry groups and State and Commonwealth counterparts to facilitate the safe movement of cargo. In
Hawaii, the State Department of Agriculture conducts nursery inspections and certifies nursery stock on APHIS’
behalf for shipment to the continental United States.
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Cooperative Program Management
APHIS works with CBP to protect America’s agricultural resources and food supply by inspecting international
passenger baggage, cargo, and conveyances. APHIS and CBP share management of the program through working
groups and daily collaboration. Senior leadership of both Agencies meet frequently to develop joint plans and
coordinate efforts in priority areas, ensure clear and balanced decision-making, streamline effective outreach and
communication, and improve organizational structure and leadership to support the shared work in the agriculture
safeguarding mission. In 2022, APHIS trained 273 new CBP agriculture specialists, conducted basic agricultural
threat training for 1,728 first-line CBP officers, provided agriculture fundamentals training for 24 CBP import
specialists, and provided advanced agricultural training support for the Trade and Cargo Academy for 72 CBP
officers. In addition, APHIS provided training support to CBP Agriculture Specialists who delivered military
cooperator inspector training to certify 335 Department of Defense (DOD) cooperators who perform agriculture
quarantine inspections in mainland U.S. military installations. These cooperators prevent the entry of agricultural
pests and diseases associated with military equipment and/or personnel returning from overseas military installations
to the United States. Additionally, APHIS trained 63 canine teams and 20 agriculture field trainers for CBP.
Pre-Clearance and Offshore Risk Reduction
One of the most effective ways to facilitate the safe movement of commodities into the United States is to address
pest threats where they originate. In 2022, APHIS precleared 2.82 billion pounds of 74 different fresh fruits and
vegetables from 19 countries before they arrived in the United States. Additionally, APHIS inspected 2.04
billion pounds of avocados in Mexico as a part of a systems approach to facilitate safe trade. APHIS has overseen
this program since 1997, and the program accounts for about 87 percent of avocado imports to the United States.
APHIS also precleared 2.2 million pounds of cut flowers, bulbs, and perennials from Chile and 1.1 billion bulbs and
perennials from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, and South Africa. There were two pest interceptions
detected at the U.S. ports of entry. APHIS immediately conducted traceback investigations in the country of origin
and strengthened safeguarding measures to prevent a recurrence. This offshore work, which importers fully fund,
allows inspected and precleared perishable products to enter through the U.S. ports of entry without delay.
APHIS conducts certain inspections and certifications overseas to verify that treatment or production facilities meet
our standards and regulatory requirements to help protect U.S. plant health from pests that could move into the
United States with high-demand, large-volume commodity imports. In 2022, APHIS certified a total of 15 new
treatment facilities - two new irradiation facilities (India, Vietnam), five new hot water treatment facilities (Peru,
Chile, Ecuador), eight new fumigation treatment facilities (Chile) - and certified upgrades to six previously certified
hot water treatment facilities. In total, APHIS monitored 282 treatment facilities in 17 countries, including seven
irradiation, three cold treatment, 127 fumigation, 141 hot water treatment, two Niger seed facilities, and two soapy
water and wax facilities. The majority of these treatment facilities are part of the preclearance programs.
Through audit-based monitoring programs, APHIS oversees almost 90 commodity programs that mitigate pests
before they reach U.S. ports. Of these, 12 programs require annual audits of all or a portion of their facilities. APHIS
completed 50 audits and recertifications, including 16 Ralstonia exclusion program facilities for annual geraniums,
seven offshore greenhouse certification program facilities, and 16 clean stock program facilities for dracaena (a
genus that includes many popular houseplants). These three programs alone allowed for the safe import of 702
million propagative plant units with a wholesale worth of $188 million.
To help the U.S. military prevent the spread of foreign animal diseases and plant pests, APHIS worked with the U.S.
Department of Defense in the first three-quarters of 2022 to inspect 21,190 shipments of personal goods, 1,376,773
pieces of military cargo, and 5,464 personal vehicles (POVs) before they returned stateside. APHIS completed
annual evaluations and recertifications of 109 military preclearance programs in 18 countries in Europe and Africa,
ensuring that these programs meet all administrative, programmatic, and safeguarding requirements. APHIS trained
109 military service members to manage these programs locally in Europe and Africa.
Defoliating moth species from Asia, or the flighted spongy moth complex, formerly referred to as the Asian gypsy
moth (AGM) species complex (made up of five Lymantria species), present an existential threat to U.S. forests.
These moths can lay their eggs on the superstructure of maritime vessels, posing a threat of spreading the pest into
new territories. In partnership with CBP, APHIS coordinated the inspection in 2022 of approximately 4,900 vessels
that had visited high-risk ports within in the last 24 months. Vessels can request a predeparture AGM inspection
certificate from 28 national plant protection organization (NPPO)-accredited certification bodies in high-risk
countries, including Russia, China, Korea, or Japan. APHIS coordinates on the standard for these inspections with
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its counterparts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. CBP reports at least 3,832 (79%) of inspected vessels
presented these certificates at U.S. ports of entry. Around 4 percent of ships without a predeparture AGM inspection
certificate had suspect AGM compared with 0.4 percent for ships with certificates.
APHIS also helps keep plant pests and diseases offshore with cooperative programs like the Greater Caribbean
Safeguarding Initiative (GCSI), the Don’t Pack a Pest Program (DPAP), and the PestLens website and early warning
system. The GCSI is a cooperative framework of 42 NPPOs in the Caribbean region that funded 9 safeguarding
projects to mitigate pest risk near U.S. borders in 2022. The DPAP provides traveler education materials in
participating countries to stop the introduction of pests and diseases in personal baggage. APHIS added a tenth
DPAP program this year and continues to work with 17 NPPO partners to develop programs in their countries.
Finally, in cooperation with North Carolina State University, APHIS provided 39 pest alert notifications to more
than three thousand registered users of PestLens, including 150 new pest-related articles, and added 119 new pests to
the Global Pest and Disease Database. These systems serve as a resource for APHIS and other plant health
regulatory officials that conduct plant health risk assessments and develop inspection policies for imported goods,
among other things.
Pre-Departure Inspections
APHIS inspected the baggage of more than 14.4 million passengers prior to departing Hawaii and Puerto Rico and
intercepted approximately 292,698 prohibited items and 4,834 quarantine-significant pests in 2022. APHIS conducts
commodity certification and inspection programs to facilitate interstate trade between Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the
continental United States. In 2022, the program conducted 48,548 inspections of regulated agricultural commodities
shipped from Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In addition, the program oversaw or conducted 6,779 cargo treatments in
Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
CBP Facilitated Port-of-Entry Inspections
In 2022, approximately 314 million passengers and pedestrians entered the United States by air, bus, ship, train, or
on foot. The program also conducted secondary agricultural inspections of 339,385 of the 82.5 million passenger
vehicles entering the United States from Canada and Mexico in 2022. In addition, inspectors cleared 32,349 ships
and 2.8 million cargo, mail, and express carrier shipments, intercepting 61,711 pests.
Propagative Plant Inspection
Imports of nursery stock and other propagative plant materials can serve as significant pathways for invasive pests
and diseases. To reduce the pest and disease risks associated with such imports, APHIS requires that certain
imported plant materials enter the United States through one of 16 plant inspection stations located at or near ports
of entry throughout the country and territories at major international airports and seaports, and at major crossings
along the U.S.-Mexico border. Plant Health Safeguarding Specialists at these stations inspect shipments to ensure
that imported plants and seeds do not contain pests and diseases of regulatory significance. In addition, they enforce
the regulations that apply to the import and export of plant species protected by the Endangered Species Act and the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. In 2022, inspectors
cleared 26,176 imported shipments containing 2.22 billion plant units (cuttings, rooted plants, tissue culture, etc.)
and over 525,898 kilograms of seeds of woody plants. Through these inspections, APHIS employees detected 3,820
pests of which 1,702 were quarantine-significant pests at the plant inspection stations. In addition, the stations
conducted 3,255 treatments or other actions to remediate pests on more than 12 million plant units
and 3,524 kilograms of seed.
Plant Germplasm Quarantine
APHIS’ Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program (PGQP) provides quarantine services for importing plant cultivars
and germplasm safely to prevent foreign pathogens from entering our agricultural production areas and environment.
In 2022, PGQP released from quarantine 22 bamboo clones, 10 grass clones, 2 kiwis, 119 pome fruits, 49 potato
clones, 60 potato true seed lots, 36 rice seed lots, 47 stone fruit clones, 239 Prunus seedlings, 9 sweet potato clones,
and 113 woody ornamentals. Fifty-five of the 119 pomes, 18 of the 47 stone fruits, 4 of the 49 potato clones, and 12
of the 15 sugarcanes released this year resulted from therapy performed on the infected imported plants. Quarantine
regulations prohibit entry of these high-risk crops into the United States in commercial quantities, but importers can
bring in small quantities through an APHIS-approved plant quarantine program, like the one at PGQP. All pome
fruit, stone fruit, potato, sweet potato, bamboo, and rice introductions released this year tested negative for
pathogens by high throughput sequencing (HTS), a nucleic acid sequencing method. PGQP developed a new HTS
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pipeline, a procedure that integrates and automates sequence steps, to detect the genetic sequences that are pathogen-
specific. The process developed by the PGQP allows APHIS to compress analysis involving hundreds of steps that
normally take a month or longer into one week. The program also improved detection procedures for 19 pome
viruses and viroids, 8 potato viruses, 5 grass viruses, 17 stone fruit pathogens, and 1 kiwi virus.
APHIS responded to two incidents of post-entry quarantine plant material being released prematurely from their
mandatory 2-year quarantine period. The same nursery was involved in both incidents. In the first, the nursery
shipped Acer plants from their quarantine location in Oregon to 19 States. In the second, the nursery shipped Acer
plants from their quarantine location in Connecticut to two States. APHIS worked with the Oregon Department of
Agriculture and Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to identify the number of plants shipped to each State
affected. APHIS initiated two recalls of the Acer plants, recovering 175 of 278 plants shipped. In those States where
the Acer plants had already been sold, APHIS plans to support surveys for the pests of concern.
Pest Identification
When pests are detected in cargo, the program must identify them to determine if they are considered quarantine
significant under APHIS regulations (i.e., if they are exotic and could pose a significant threat to U.S. plant health, if
the program can allow the cargo entry into the United States, and what, if any, mitigation measures would be
required.) In 2022, APHIS processed and identified approximately 109,000 pest interceptions, with approximately
53,200 being quarantine significant. In 2022, APHIS continued its use of digital imaging technology for pest
identification to support limited staff presence in the pest identification laboratories to protect the health of
employees from COVID-19 exposure. APHIS National Specialists performed 77 percent of their final identifications
for cargo on hold based on digital images, an increase of 4 percent over 2021. APHIS will continue the use of digital
imaging technology as means to improve the timeliness of pest identifications for urgent submissions (i.e., those for
which cargo is on hold pending a pest identification). APHIS and CBP use the Cargo Release Authority (CRA)
program to reduce the number of pests that CBP must submit to APHIS for identification, speeding up the inspection
process for shipments that contain no suspect quarantine pests. Through the CRA program, APHIS provides training
and job aids that allow CBP Agriculture Specialists to recognize frequently intercepted, easily identifiable, low-risk
organisms, and to release the cargo if the organism is not a quarantine significant pest. APHIS grants CRA after the
Agriculture Specialist has successfully identified a particular pest a certain number of times and submitted
documentation to APHIS. APHIS and CBP initiated a review of the program in 2022 and will relaunch the full CRA
program during 2023.
Risk Analysis and Methods Development
APHIS’ Plant Pest Risk Analysis (PPRA) unit develops pest risk analyses and epidemiological approaches to
support and improve pest exclusion programs and decision making. In 2022, APHIS completed approximately 278
risk analyses associated with imports, exports, invasive pest threats, and other programmatic requirements. This total
includes 33 analyses to open, expand, or maintain export markets for U.S. producers and 48 risk assessments for
import requests from foreign countries. PPRA’s work also included evaluations of 10 newly detected pests by the
New Pest Advisory Group, 9 pathway analyses and spread models, 2 economic analyses supporting operational and
policy decisions, and 8 New Pest Response Guidelines to proactively prepare for emergency responses. These
products identify potentially harmful plant pests and diseases and help APHIS decide what mitigating actions to take
in order to prevent their entry into or limit their spread or economic impact within the United States. APHIS’ Plant
Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (PPCDL) develops, adapts, validates, and utilizes diagnostic
methods for the detection of regulated plant pathogens. In 2022, PPCDL supported the development and
implementation of innovative molecular diagnostic tools at ports of entry for a Ralstonia, a pathogen that cannot be
detected visually.
Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC)
SITC identifies and closes smuggling pathways for prohibited agricultural products into U.S. commerce. SITC
works closely with CBP to identify and target agricultural risks at the ports of entry before they enter U.S.
commerce. In 2022, SITC conducted over 11,613 market surveys and seized 2,929 prohibited agricultural items in
retail commercial locations. In addition, SITC initiated 1,613 product traces including 278 items from internet sales
and 202 from courier surveys. Those seizures totaled 339,408 pounds of prohibited and/or restricted plants, plant
products, meat, and meat products valued at approximately $2.1 million. Additionally, SITC conducted 19 recalls
for restricted material, including noncompliant wooden handicrafts and grain products. Total seizures as a result of
recalls weighed 48,843 pounds and had an estimated value of $713,915.
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Treatment Program
APHIS supports U.S. imports of plants and plant products by facilitating and monitoring phytosanitary treatments.
APHIS facilitated entry of regulated agricultural cargo through the monitoring of 15,347 fumigations, 38,620 cold
treatments, 6,766 irradiation certifications, and 114 heat treatments of Niger Seed to reduce pest risks on cargo that
would not otherwise have been allowed entry.
Permitting
APHIS requires that importers apply for permits for the importation into the United States and transit through the
United States of certain high-risk regulated plants and plant products for consumption or propagation. These
products include regulated plants and plant products, pests, and pathogens for diagnostic and research, biological
control agents, soil, and Federal noxious weeds. Permits notify importers of commodity import requirements to
ensure products and commodities making entry into the United States will not harm American agriculture. During
2022, PPQ issued 36,999 import permits for regulated plant material and issued 11,471 letters (Letters of Denial or
Letters of No Jurisdiction) in response to permit application requests. In addition, to permits and permit-related
correspondences, the Plant Protection and Quarantine Customer Support Center responded to 42,230 customer
support calls and emails to assist stakeholders with import-related questions. APHIS continues to improve the
customer experience through the development and delivery of the new eFile permitting system. The new eFile
system supports the implementation of automated permitting for more than 45 percent of all permit types and
reduces the wait time for a permit to be issued to within minutes, as compared to 2-4 weeks using the previous
ePermits system.
Phytosanitary Export Certification
APHIS facilitates the export of agricultural shipments by tracking plant health import requirements for approximately
200 countries and provides certifications to U.S. exporters to help ensure that U.S. products meet other countries’
requirements. More than 2,100 Authorized Certification Officials at the Federal, State, and county levels can access
countries' certification requirements online and conduct inspections to issue phytosanitary certificates. These
certificates facilitate the entry of commodities into foreign markets. The program employs a web-based Phytosanitary
Export Database. This database, which is free to exporters, enables them to research requirements and better prepare for
shipping. In addition, this program uses a Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT) database that allows
exporters to apply for certificates, schedule inspections, and pay certification fees. PCIT also collects State and county
cooperator fees in addition to the USDA fees for phytosanitary certificates. In 2022, APHIS collected more than $40.1
million for certificates and remitted more than $21.7 million of that amount to State and County cooperators for
certificates they issued. Currently, 37 States and 34 counties use this feature. PCIT also enables APHIS to capture
export application information, document inspection, and certification information, print an original phytosanitary
certificate on secure paper, and generate export reports. Additionally, the Agency is continuing its effort with
international counterparts exchanging phytosanitary certificates electronically. Over the last several years, APHIS
worked with the International Plant Protection Convention to establish an electronic hub that countries can access to
exchange export certificates with trading partners. The hub provides a central point for document exchange that
eliminates the need for countries to establish electronic connections with each trading partner individually. Recent
studies by industry have shown that paperwork errors slow down exports, leading to the majority of costly delays. The
United States began using the hub in May 2018 and is actively exchanging certificates with 80 countries now (an
increase of 25 countries in 2022) with more than 203,000 phytosanitary certificates received and more than 292,000
sent (more than 40 percent of the total number of certificates issued). In 2022, APHIS, State, and county officials issued
more than 656,000 Federal export certificates for agricultural shipments. APHIS also transitioned away from the use of
Plant Protection and Quarantine Form 578 (Processed Product Certificate) because it was not compatible with
international standards or electronic exchange. Most commodities that traditionally received it were transitioned to
regular phytosanitary certificates. Additionally, APHIS also discontinued the use of security paper for all certificates.
Each certificate has a QR code allowing the authenticity to be verified anywhere in the world. This change allows
exporters to print any certificates once completed for their own needs and saves both government and industry time and
money associated with printing, storing, distributing, and retrieving documents.
2. Cotton Pests
The Cotton Pests Program works with growers, the cotton industry, States, and Mexico to eradicate the boll weevil
(BW) and pink bollworm (PBW) from all cotton-producing areas of the United States and northern Mexico.
Collectively, the BW and PBW are the most destructive pests of cotton, worldwide. The Cotton Pests Program also
maintains preparedness capabilities to address other cotton pests that could enter the United States. APHIS provides
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national coordination, operational oversight, and technology development (such as sterile moth production for PBW
eradication), while program partners have provided more than two-thirds of the funding for the BW eradication
effort and most of the operational funds for PBW eradication. APHIS also provides technical advice on trapping and
treatment protocols to its partners in Mexico for their eradication efforts.
The BW has cost cotton growers more than $15 billion since it entered the United States in the late 19th century
(National Cotton Council of America, 2021). APHIS began the initial BW eradication program along the Virginia-
North Carolina border in the early 1980s. The BW eradication effort involves mapping cotton fields, using
pheromone traps to evaluate weevil presence, and applying pesticides. Once BW is eradicated from an area, cotton
growers rely less on insecticides, thus reducing their production costs. Over the course of the eradication efforts, the
program has increased these growers’ global competitiveness, primarily through reduced production costs and
increasing yields.
To date, APHIS and cooperators have eradicated BW from 99 percent of the 11.2 million acres of U.S. cotton
(Acreage Report, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2021). The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is the last
zone within the United States where the pest persists. BW populations in neighboring Mexican cotton producing
State of Tamaulipas impact eradication efforts in the LRGV. Therefore, APHIS and its cooperators in Mexico’s
National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) and Texas Boll Weevil Eradication
Foundation (TX-BWEF) are working to eradicate BW from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
APHIS continued virtual monthly meetings with SENASICA to maintain open communication about BW
eradication successes and challenges throughout the 2022 growing season. APHIS also engaged its international
counterparts in Mexico City to expand its engagement with SENASICA. APHIS will continue engaging
SENASICA at multiple levels to ensure growers adhere to eradication and quality control protocols, as well as
ensure growers adhere to defoliation, harvest, and stalk-destruction deadlines set by the BW eradication program.
In addition to monthly meetings with SENASICA in 2022, cooperators from the United States and Mexico gathered
for their annual meeting to review progress and amend the BW Eradication Operational Plan for the 2022 growing
season. Amendments were adopted to enhance quality controls for technician training, BW monitoring, data
integrity, and communication. These mutually agreed upon amendments will ensure accurate and timely treatment
of areas where BW captures are present. These amendments refined the practices adopted in 2021 which emphasized
early-season treatments followed by aggressive localized aerial treatments triggered by detection of a single weevil.
In 2022, APHIS continued its support for the BW Eradication Program in Tamaulipas, Mexico, through its
agreement with the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) which funds ultra-low volume
malathion and aerial treatment expenses. Cooperators from TX-BWEF provided technical training and assistance to
SENASICA and growers in Tamaulipas to implement the rigorous quality control program protocols. This includes
providing technical assistance through the smart device application that enables employees and TX-BWEF
managers to monitor trap deployment, trap servicing, and treatment activities in real time.
Environmental conditions in the LRGV and Northern Tamaulipas present APHIS and its cooperators with
challenges that interfere with BW monitoring and treatments. Unseasonal freezing in 2021 delayed cotton planting
by two weeks in the LRGV and Tamaulipas areas. By contrast, extended heat and drought conditions in 2022 caused
growers to destroy some of their cotton crop and shorten the growing season. BW captures in Tamaulipas remained
low throughout the 2022 growing season but captures in LRGV spiked in late August through mid-September.
Captures in Tamaulipas decreased by 96 percent, totaling 404 by October 2022, compared with 11,993 BW captures
by the same time in 2021. Cooperators in Tamaulipas treated 447,026 acres in 2022 compared with 558,212 treated
acres in 2021. Captures in LRGV increased by 34 percent, totaling 4,033 by October 2022, compared with 3,029
BW captures by the same time in 2021. Approximately 93 percent of BW captures in the LRGV originated from a
single 62-acre field from August 29 through September 16 when the field was harvested and plowed down. The field
represented only 0.00054 percent of the 182,213 acres of planted cotton in the LRGV. Cooperators needed to treat
only 447,047 acres in the LRGV, compared with 753,505 that needed treatment at the same time the prior year.
APHIS will continue partnering with the U.S. cotton industry to reduce the BW population in the LRGV and to
conduct BW surveillance efforts for all U.S. cotton production areas in 2023. APHIS will also continue to partner
with SENASICA’s Tamaulipas BW Eradication Program to provide technical assistance and funding for their
parallel program to the LRGV program. APHIS is committed to monitoring BW to ensure the detection any of
reintroductions quickly, and to work toward successful eradication of BW in the United States in the coming years.
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In the United States, although the volume of acreage planted with cotton varies from year to year, the PBW
commonly caused cotton losses of 20 percent or more in affected areas. Since the PBW control program began in
1967, APHIS and cooperative program partners have eradicated the PBW from Southern California, Arizona, large
areas of New Mexico, and the El Paso/Trans Pecos region of Texas. On September 26, 2018, APHIS issued a
Federal Order releasing Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas from the PBW quarantine. On October 19,
2018, APHIS, in conjunction with industry partners, officially announced the successful eradication of PBW from
all commercial cotton-producing areas in the continental United States. In 2018, Florida added a PBW quarantine
for an area in the Everglades where a wild PBW population has persisted for the last 80 years and appears to only be
active in wild cotton. As a result, APHIS, along with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
and the Florida cotton industry began surveying the perimeter of the commercial cotton area in the northern part of
the State and the adjacent okra fields in the city of Homestead, to ensure that PBW has not spread. In 2022, APHIS
continued to survey these areas in Florida to ensure that isolated PBW populations in southern Florida do not move
into the commercial cotton production areas north of the Everglades. These surveys will continue in 2023.
3. Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests
The Field Crop and Rangeland Ecosystem Pests (FCREP) program protects U.S. agricultural crops and rangelands
from the establishment or spread of invasive or economically significant pests, facilitates safe international trade and
domestic commerce, preserves economic opportunities for U.S. farmers, and fosters healthy ecosystems in
rangelands and natural lands. To accomplish these goals, APHIS provides national coordination, threat assessment,
and strategies to prevent pests and diseases such as grasshoppers and Mormon crickets (GMC), imported fire ants
(IFA), Karnal bunt, and witchweed from spreading and impacting export markets for U.S. farmers. These programs
help protect resources that small, rural communities depend on for income.
Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets
Through the FCREP program, APHIS cooperates with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, organizations, and
institutions to conduct survey and suppression activities in western States to reduce damage that GMC outbreaks
cause, protecting rangeland resources that serve as forage for livestock, provide habitat for wildlife and ecosystem
services, as well as recreation opportunities. A 2012 University of Wyoming study found that healthy rangeland
provides forage value worth $6.7 billion and overall benefits ranging from $10.7 to $21.2 billion. Uncontrolled
GMC infestations could cause significant economic losses for U.S. livestock producers by reducing animal food
supply in rangeland, and therefore forcing producers to buy supplemental feed or sell their livestock at reduced
prices. Besides feeding on grass, GMC can also devastate cultivated crops such as alfalfa, barley, corn, and wheat.
Damage from grasshoppers and Mormon crickets also reduces habitat and food sources for wildlife, which can
threaten animal and plant biodiversity as well as the rangeland’s ability to sequester carbon. Infestations often cover
vast acreage, and landowners or land managers may need Federal support to control them. The program helps
landowners and land managers by providing population information, helping to predict where grasshopper
populations could develop into outbreaks, and providing technical assistance about options for dealing with
problem-level populations. By providing ongoing information, and advice to land managers and conducting
suppression treatments where necessary and possible, this program helps protect 661 million acres of rangeland
across the western United States.
In 2022, APHIS conducted surveys in 13 States for GMC, collecting data at approximately 30,685 survey points.
Grasshopper populations can build cyclically, and high population levels that began two years ago in 2020 continued
into 2022. With available funding, APHIS was able to conduct treatments for small areas with high populations. The
program conducted treatments in five States in 2022, using FCREP funding and reimbursements from participating
landowners. The Plant Protection Act specifies that the Federal government covers 100 percent of treatment costs on
Federal lands; 50 percent on States lands; and 33.3 percent on private lands. APHIS conducted treatments on 91,642
acres in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. These treatments protected rangeland forage and wildlife
habitat on more than 224,000 acres. Before conducting any grasshopper treatments, APHIS confirms the species of
the grasshopper as some do not cause damage to rangeland and others can even provide ecological benefits by eating
weeds (leaving grasses for grazing livestock).
Imported Fire Ants
IFA is a major public nuisance and serious agricultural pest causing approximately $6.7 billion in damage to
homeowners, agriculture, and natural ecosystems within the IFA Federal quarantine area, according to the Ant Pests
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Community led by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Extension Service (https://ant-
pests.extension.org). The economic impact if IFA reached all suitable habitats in the United States where IFA could
become established is greater than $10.6 billion per year (Economic Evaluation of the Regulatory Program for
Imported Fire Ants, APHIS, March 2018). Currently, IFA infests more than 374 million acres in Puerto Rico and 14
States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, which are under a partial or full State quarantine. The
IFA program provides regulatory guidelines to stakeholders for the treatment of regulated articles, oversight, and
enforcement to help prevent the human-assisted spread of the pest. In 2022, the IFA program continued work with
university researchers and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to develop new pesticide treatments to
prevent IFA movement on nursery stock and sod and to stay informed on any new opportunities for biological
control. The program also worked with ARS on a second generation of the field identification immunoassay kit
which identifies red, black, and hybrid IFAs in the same assay. In 2022, the program incorporated the new IFA field
test kits in detection surveys. The kits appear to be working well according to initial feedback and requests for
additional test kits. The program continued support to California to maintain the scope of their annual IFA surveys
and assisted New Mexico with information on IFA surveys. The IFA program is in the process of expanding the
Federal quarantine area for new counties in Arkansas and Tennessee.
Karnal Bunt
The FCREP program also addresses Karnal bunt, a fungal disease of wheat that was first detected in the United
States in 1996. Many U.S. trading partners will not accept U.S. wheat unless it is certified to originate from areas
where Karnal bunt is known not to exist. The program prevents the disease from entering the grain market system,
spreading beyond the areas of Arizona where it is currently found (portions of two counties in the State, accounting
for 0.12 percent of wheat acreage in the United States). In 2022, the program removed 24,715 acres from Karnal
bunt regulated areas on tribal and non-tribal lands in Arizona based on the program’s protocols. These activities
prevent Karnal bunt from affecting other States. USDA’s Economic Research Service estimated in 2010 (the most
recent study available) that without the program’s efforts there would be a cumulative reduction of national net farm
income of $8 billion over the next eight years. In 2022, 23 wheat-producing States participated in the Karnal bunt
national survey. The program tested 559 samples with no positive detections. Based on this national survey, the
program certifies wheat exports free of Karnal bunt, assuring trading partners about the safety of U.S. wheat exports,
retaining export markets, and facilitating wheat movement into domestic and international markets. In 2021, farmers
across the country planted approximately 47 million acres of wheat and harvested 1.6 billion bushels of wheat with a
value of $11.9 billion (National Agricultural Statistics Service, Crop Values 2021 Summary and Crop Production).
The United States exported 24 million metric tons of wheat, valued at $7.2 billion; wheat products valued at $153
million; wheat flour valued at $180 million to 83 countries (Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Agricultural Trade
System). Without the successful Karnal bunt quarantine and survey program, wheat trade would be disrupted.
Witchweed
Another concern for the FCREP program is witchweed, a parasitic plant present in several counties in North and
South Carolina that can significantly damage corn, rice, sorghum, and sugarcane. If witchweed were to spread
throughout the Corn Belt, it could decrease crop yields for corn and sorghum by up to 10 percent and could
negatively impact trade in commodities from these areas. Since program activities began in 1957, APHIS and
cooperators have successfully eradicated witchweed from 99 percent of the infested areas in North Carolina and
South Carolina. These activities consist of frequent field inspections, treatment of infested acres (tillage, ethylene
injections to stimulate witchweed seeds to sprout, and hand-pulling and herbicide application), post-eradication
surveys, and addressing any new infestations. The program surveyed 21,786 acres in 2022 (surveys continue
through the fall and are still ongoing). At the beginning of the 2022 season, 1,725 acres were infested, and 62 acres
were newly infested or re-infested during the season. In 2022, APHIS treated 861 acres. Because witchweed seeds
can remain viable in the soil for up to 14 years, and a host plant must be present for witchweed germination, year-to-
year fluctuations in the number of acres infested are common. By preventing the spread of this damaging weed, the
program indirectly protects U.S. corn production, which covered more than 93 million acres in 2021 valued at nearly
$82.6 billion (National Agricultural Statistics Service, Crop Values 2021 Summary).
Roseau Cane Scale
Roseau cane is an important grass species in wetland areas of the lower Mississippi Delta, Louisiana. The plant’s
root system provides wildlife habitat, protects the interior from storm surges, and protects riverbanks from erosion,
which impacts the Mississippi River navigation channel. Since 2017, researchers from Louisiana State University
(LSU) and ARS have investigated multiple potential stressors causing dieback of Roseau cane in the Mississippi
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River Delta. These stressors include high water levels, salinity intrusion, scale insects, plant pathogens, and soil
chemistry. To further investigate the possible causes of the die-off, LSU formed a multi-disciplinary and multi-
institutional team with support from APHIS, starting in 2018. Research objectives include the biology and control of
the scale insect that affects Roseau cane; other stressors that may affect the health of Roseau cane, including soil
composition, pH levels, and nitrates; marsh grass restoration techniques; host plant resistance to scale insects;
impacts of both beneficial and pathogenic microbes on Roseau cane; and restoration ecology. In 2022, funding from
APHIS supported continued work on environmental stressors and Roseau cane die-off and restoration; above and
below ground interactions impacting Roseau cane; field monitoring and remote sensing of Roseau cane dieback sites
and restoration plots; and categorization of genetics of Roseau cane found in the Mississippi River Delta.
Additionally, with funding available under Plant Protection Act 7721, APHIS identified a potential biological
control agent (Aprostocetus sp.) and is conducting initial work to develop it, including rearing it in containment to
start a colony and begin testing to ensure it will not attack non-target plants. The work to date by the Roseau cane
die-back team has continued to improve our understanding of plant stressors on Roseau cane and the biology,
distribution, feeding ecology, and impact of the scale insect attacking the cane at the Mississippi River Delta.
4. Pest Detection
The goal of the Pest Detection Program is to document the presence or absence of plant pests and diseases of
Federal regulatory significance in the United States. This documented information is the basis of APHIS’ regulatory
efforts and pest management programs that preserve economic opportunities for farmers (i.e., interstate commerce
and international trade) and safeguard U.S. agricultural and natural resources. The program collaborates with
Federal agencies, state departments of agriculture, Tribes, academic institutions, and industry partners in all 50
States and several U.S. Territories to conduct program activities.
APHIS and its State cooperators carry out plant pest surveys through the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
(CAPS) program. APHIS provides national coordination for the program and develops policies and procedures for
surveys. In addition, the program funds survey coordinator positions in each State as part of the personnel
infrastructure necessary to do surveys. The program enables APHIS and cooperators to target high-risk hosts and
commodities, gather data about pests specific to a commodity, and provide information of pest distribution,
including pest-free areas. Early pest detection is important to avert economic and environmental damage. In addition
to lost farm revenues and damage to ecosystems, the mitigation costs can reach millions of dollars once a pest
becomes established or spreads significantly. While many entities are involved in protecting crops and resources,
APHIS verifies that U.S. products do not pose risks to other countries. Pest surveys conducted through the CAPS
program demonstrate absence of a pest and are used in some cases to address importing countries’ phytosanitary
requirements and retain access to foreign markets.
APHIS and cooperators in 50 States and 4 territories conducted a total of 326 unique pest surveys, targeting 97.2%
of the high-risk plant pests and diseases identified for 2022 surveys. Through the Pest Detection program, APHIS
also funded a network of 49 State Survey Coordinators that assisted with pest detection surveys. From these surveys,
APHIS confirmed at least 7 pests new to the United States. In addition to the annual surveys and detected pests, the
Pest Detection program coordinates development of survey tools for high-risk pests with APHIS scientists. For
example, in 2022 APHIS developed climate suitability maps to help State cooperators target survey efforts for 10
pests of concern. The program is evaluating and responding to about 50 pests identified during 2022 surveys and
prior years including old world bollworm, golden twin-spot moth, and tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Evaluating
these detections allows APHIS and State officials to determine whether regulatory or mitigation measures are
necessary to manage the potential impacts of the pests or diseases. In consultation with stakeholders, APHIS
determined eight pests do not require regulatory measures and the regulatory pest status changed from quarantine to
non-quarantine; these pests include: Agriotes lineatus, Batocera rufomaculata, Clepsis spectrana, Colletotrichum
phormii, Ctenarytaina spatulata, Lachnopus curvipes, Megalurothrips usitatus, and Thaumastocoris peregrinus. In
addition to providing data for determining when pest response activities are needed in the United States, APHIS uses
the data showing that many high-risk pests are not present to support U.S. farmers’ access to export markets. In
2022, APHIS used the data in bilateral trade discussions, pest risks assessments supporting U.S. exports, and
issuance of phytosanitary certificates.
In 2022, the program exceeded its target of detecting 90 percent of the 104 high-risk pests before they spread to new
areas. All pests were localized at the time they were detected.
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5. Plant Protection Methods Development
The Plant Protection Methods Development (PPMD) program develops scientifically viable and practical tools for
exotic plant pest exclusion, detection, and management. These tools preserve economic opportunities for farmers
and industries who engage in interstate commerce and international trade, and safeguard U.S. agricultural and
natural resources from invasive plant pests. The program is essential to APHIS’ mission by developing and
validating tools for detecting exotic pests in survey programs; molecular diagnostic tests and identification tools for
pest identification; integrated pest management methods, including biological control, to help eliminate or manage
invasive pests; and phytosanitary treatments to support interstate and international trade. A major focus of the
program is to develop and implement biological control technologies that allow for the use of natural enemies alone,
or in combination with other control tactics, to effectively mitigate the impacts of introduced, invasive insect pests,
weeds, and plant pathogens, while minimizing impacts to the environment.
In 2022, the program continued developing and improving technologies, tools, and treatments for APHIS’ plant pest
and disease programs, including Mexican fruit fly, grasshopper, and spotted lanternfly (SLF), among others. For
SLF, the program continued operationalizing the use of golden pest spray oil (a product that is 93 percent food-grade
soybean oil registered with the Environment Protection Agency and certified for organic use) as a control method on
the pest’s egg masses to prevent pest spread. In 2022, four States—Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
Virginia—began using it on a trial basis. If the treatment is successful, APHIS will expand it to additional States in
2023. The program continues to make advances in new technologies for pest detection and management, including
the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In 2022, the program worked toward the use UAS for aerial sprays of
fruit fly treatments. For example, the program evaluated the effects of three flight path algorithms on spray
efficiency to determine software requirements. The program also used UAS to obtain images of wild grasshoppers to
improve use of artificial intelligence for UAS-based surveys.
The program provides ongoing methods support to a variety of plant pest and disease programs, providing short-
term improvements and helping to solve immediate program needs. In 2022, the PPMD program tested new diet
ingredients for Mexican fruit fly sterile insect production when citric acid supplies were impacted by supply chain
issues and found a substitute for the ingredient, ensuring production of sterile flies could continue. The program also
developed standard operating procedures for APHIS’ domestic sterile fruit fly production facilities. The procedures
provide a step-by-step guide to a series of tests conducted on a daily basis throughout the facilities to ensure that the
sterile insects are high-quality and effective in the field. The guide makes the processes consistent across facilities
and provides an easy-to-use reference document for employees.
The PPMD program maintains its own quarantine and rearing facilities for biological control agents in Arizona,
California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and Guatemala. APHIS partners with USDA’s Agricultural Research
Service (ARS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State departments of agriculture, universities in 30 States and
Territories, and 2 Native American Tribes to evaluate and establish biological control agents for invasive plants,
pests, and diseases. The biological control program has been responsive in developing biological control agents to
address invasive pests and weeds such as Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer (EAB), roseau cane scale, air
potato and spotted lanternfly. The current 2022 biological control portfolio includes 38 cooperative agreements with
States and Tribal Nations that collectively attack 25 weeds and 3 arthropod pests.
In 2022, the biological control program continued to work with State and Tribal cooperators to rear and release
approved biological control agents. New research on EAB biological control agents has identified species that
climatologically adapt to cooler or warmer U.S. regions and surrounding areas. This discovery allows the program to
better target biocontrol releases, while protecting the next generation of ash trees in eastern region forests. Ongoing
field evaluation of these EAB biological control agents will determine best management practices for their
operational release.
The PPMD program also supports research related to invasive honey bee pests, specifically Varroa mites. A Varroa
mite feeds on the honey bee’s fat body tissue (an organ similar to the human liver), in turn weakening and
shortening the bee's life. The Varroa mite is considered the greatest single driver of the global honey bee colony
losses (ARS). Managed honey bee colonies add at least $15 billion to the value of U.S. agriculture each year through
increased yields and superior quality harvests (O’Brien, D. 2019 ARS Microscopy Research Helps Unravel the
Workings of a Major Honey Bee Pest). In 2022, the program continued to fund priority projects with other Federal
and State agencies, as well as university and non-profit researchers, that support managing, suppressing, and
eradicating Varroa mites, small hive beetles, and other pests and diseases contributing to a decline in honey bee
health. These projects included investigating new pesticide control options for Varroa mites, and researching other
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important pests of honey bees. In 2023, the program will continue to fund similar priority projects to combat Varroa
mites and other important issues related to honey bee health.
6. Specialty Crop Pests
The goal of the Specialty Crop Pests (SCP) Program is to protect U.S. fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture,
and nursery crops from adverse impacts associated with invasive pests, such as crop damage or threats to
international trade and interstate commerce. APHIS works with State, Tribal, university, and industry partners to
develop and implement practices, policies, and regulations that prevent or mitigate impacts for invasive pests of
Federal regulatory significance. These activities include verifying pest distribution, identifying and mitigating risk
pathways to prevent long distance spread of the pests, developing and implementing diagnostic tools and pest
mitigation strategies, and communicating with the public to gain support for program strategies. These efforts help
U.S. farmers export their products, prevent damage to specialty crop production (helping to ensure the availability of
fresh fruits and vegetables), and protect natural resources, including forests and residential landscapes. The program
currently addresses several pests and diseases including exotic fruit flies, a variety of citrus pests and diseases,
glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), spotted lanternfly (SLF), pale cyst nematode (PCN), navel orangeworm
(NOW), and Phytopthora ramorum, among others. Overall, the program directly protects specialty crop production
worth more than $11 billion in 2021 (APHIS internal analysis based on National Agricultural Statistics Survey data).
The program indirectly protects additional specialty crop production valued at nearly $7 billion in 2021, by
preventing the spread of these damaging pests and diseases to new areas (based on APHIS analysis using Economic
Research Service data). Without the SCP program, trading partners might not accept a variety of U.S. fruits and
vegetables. The value of trade in specialty crops that could potentially be disrupted without the SCP program was
$4.3 billion in 2021, according to an internal APHIS report using data from the Foreign Agricultural Service’s
Global Agricultural Trade System.
Grapes
The SCP program targets several devastating pests and diseases, including GWSS, EGVM, and SLF, that could
affect grape production and impact export markets. In August 2016, APHIS declared the successful eradication of
EGVM from California. In 2022, APHIS, in collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) and industry partners, continued monitoring for EGVM with more than 22,000 traps placed in 37
participating counties. APHIS and cooperators found no infestations. APHIS is evaluating what level of survey to
continue and how to expand surveys to incorporate other grape pests.
APHIS also continued the successful, cooperative GWSS program designed to suppress populations of this pest
where it is established. GWSS is a vector for Pierce’s disease, which is lethal to grapevines. The program’s
suppression and regulatory activities work to prevent the spread of the vector and disease across California. In 2022,
the program continued to conduct surveys and other regulatory activities including inspections of nursery stock and
bulk citrus for the pest in 49 California counties, and continued area-wide suppression activities in affected
agricultural production areas of four California counties. With citrus growers’ voluntary suppression treatments, the
program covered 27,132 acres. Of the more than 27,000 shipments of nursery stock from infested areas, California
county inspectors rejected three shipments due to GWSS life stages being present. Together, the EGVM and GWSS
programs directly protected 829,000 acres of grape production worth $5.2 billion in the State of California in 2021
(National Agricultural Statistics Survey Noncitrus Fruit and Nuts 2021 Summary).
In 2022, APHIS and cooperators continued addressing SLF using funding provided through Specialty Crop Pests
and with $7.5 million in funding available under Plant Protection Act Section 7721. This invasive pest is now found
in 14 States, including Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia. SLF prefers to feed on the
invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) but also feeds on a wide range of crops and plants, including grapes,
apples, hops, walnuts and hardwood trees. Thus far, vineyards have been the most adversely affected agricultural
commodity. The insect sucks sap from stems and leaves, causing damage to plants as they feed. There is a strong
correlation between new SLF populations and major transportation pathways, such as railroads and interstate
corridors. APHIS conducts targeted treatments and, in some areas, removes SLF’s preferred host plant, tree of
heaven, from transportation hubs with the aim of reducing the risk of SLF spread to new areas. APHIS and
cooperators also continue to conduct treatments on the leading edge of the infestation and to eradicate isolated
infestations. In 2022, APHIS and cooperators treated 4,802 properties covering 6,150 acres in affected areas
included in the program’s environmental assessment (EA). The program is continuing efforts to complete National
Environmental Protection Act documentation in the four additional States where SLF has been identified and are not
covered under the current EA—Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Rhode Island. Once the program completes
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the supplemental EA for these four States requiring immediate treatment, APHIS will begin preparing a
programmatic, nationwide EA to address all other known and potential SLF treatment areas in the United States.
The program continues to evaluate new treatment strategies, and in 2022, APHIS and cooperators identified three
potential biological control organisms, one that targets the tree of heaven and two that target SLF. APHIS will
continue to evaluate them and develop methods to rear them in the laboratory. Additionally, APHIS began working
with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the National Plant Board to develop a
national strategic plan outlining the future direction of the SLF program. With the strategic plan, APHIS aims to
harmonize the approach across States to slow SLF’s spread, develop consistent outreach messaging for a nationwide
audience, and more effectively use existing State and Federal resources.
Citrus
Citrus fruits are high-value specialty crops and a nutritious food for consumers across the world. The United States
was the fourth largest exporter of citrus by value and sixth largest by volume in 2021 (International Trade Centre
Trade Map database). APHIS supports the citrus industry’s continued ability to produce, harvest, process, and ship
citrus fruits and nursery stock despite the presence of diseases such as citrus canker, citrus greening or
Huanglongbing (HLB), sweet orange scab, and citrus black spot, which decrease fruit quality, increase production
costs for producers, and threaten export markets in areas when found. HLB is the most serious disease of citrus
currently impacting Florida and Texas, and threatening the citrus crop in Arizona, California, and Louisiana. The
insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), spreads the disease. Through the Citrus Health Response Program,
APHIS and State partners also conduct surveys for other diseases not known to occur in the United States, including
citrus leprosis and citrus variegated chlorosis.
APHIS and cooperators in citrus-producing States perform multi-pest surveys providing timely information about
the presence of pests and diseases to growers and State government partners. This information allows growers to
take necessary actions to manage their groves and allows APHIS and States to update quarantine boundaries and
regulations to prevent the spread of serious citrus pests and diseases through the movement of regulated materials.
Based on the results of surveys, the Agency adjusted quarantine boundaries during 2022 for HLB in California,
citrus canker in Alabama and Texas, and citrus black spot in Florida. In areas affected by citrus pests and diseases,
APHIS’ flexible regulatory protocols have minimized the impact of the quarantines on growers, who can move
citrus out of quarantined areas to packinghouses if they follow mitigation procedures to prevent the disease or its
insect vector from spreading. The Agency works with citrus nurseries across the United States to ensure that nursery
stock produced in areas quarantined for citrus diseases is free from the pests, ensuring that clean plants are moving
between States and available for citrus producers and residential use. In 2022, approximately 614 businesses had
compliance agreements with APHIS and moved regulated host materials such as citrus fruit and nursery stock under
more than 18,800 certificates and limited permits issued by the Agency.
APHIS and cooperators continue extensive surveys that establish citrus black spot-free production units and low
prevalence areas for citrus canker in Florida for export packing to the European Union. APHIS also supports area-
wide management efforts in Texas and California for citrus pests and diseases. In 2022, APHIS and cooperators
continued to conduct risk-based surveys for HLB in residential and commercial citrus areas in California to ensure
they detect the disease quickly if it is present. APHIS assists CDFA in aggressively responding to positive detections
of HLB (thus far in residential areas only) and implementing an area-wide management approach for ACP
population control. APHIS continued biological control efforts targeting ACP. This program, which employs a
predatory wasp against ACP, augments other management methods, especially in residential areas in Arizona,
California, Louisiana, and Texas, where use of chemical pesticides is undesirable. Additionally, APHIS and
cooperators confirmed the presence of citrus yellow vein clearing virus in Tulare County, California; efforts are
ongoing to determine the extent of disease spread and develop an appropriate regulatory response. These citrus
health activities directly protect citrus production on 668,100 acres in the United States worth approximately $2.91
billion for the 2021-2022 growing season (National Agricultural Statistics Survey Citrus Fruits 2022 Summary).
Without APHIS’ activities, citrus exports could be at risk each year. In 2021, the value of U.S. citrus exports totaled
approximately $968 million (Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agricultural Trade System).
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HLB Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group
To help address the citrus industry’s immediate and long-term needs in dealing with HLB, APHIS established the
HLB MAC response framework in December 2013. In addition to APHIS, the HLB MAC includes USDA’s
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Office of Pest Management
Policy; the Environmental Protection Agency; State departments of agriculture in Arizona, California, Florida, and
Texas; citrus research organizations in California, Florida, and Texas; and citrus industry organizations in
California, Florida, and Texas. Between 2014 and 2019, the HLB MAC funded a total of 105 projects carried out by
State cooperators, universities, private companies, and Federal agencies. The projects focused on strategies for
vector control, therapies for infected trees, sustainability of new plantings, early detection technologies, best
management practices for citrus groves, and support for the development of HLB-resistant citrus varieties. In 2019,
the HLB MAC shifted focus towards determining the best management practices for producing citrus under the
threat and pressure of HLB. In 2019 and 2020, APHIS provided HLB MAC funds to support the Florida Citrus
Research and Field Trials (CRaFT) project to conduct field evaluations of strategies that showed previous scientific
evidence of success. This project brought in growers, as collaborators, to evaluate interactions between methods,
treatments, environments, rootstock/scion combinations, and growing practices. In 2021, building on the success of
the CRaFT approach in Florida, APHIS initiated similar projects in California and Texas. As these States represent
different stages of disease progression yet share the common goal of robust healthy trees and a productive industry,
this approach offers an opportunity to evaluate the impact of tools available for all challenges that HLB poses in
different environmental conditions. The results of these projects will benefit all citrus-growing regions in the United
States that are threatened by this devastating disease. In 2022, APHIS provided funding to California and Florida for
these ongoing projects. Texas continued using funds provided in 2021 under a 2-year cooperative agreement.
Tree Fruit and Nursery Stock
APHIS protects a wide variety of specialty crops (particularly tree fruit and citrus) through exotic fruit fly exclusion
and detection activities. One of the Agency’s key strategies is effectively managing pest populations in Guatemala
and southern Mexico to prevent northward movement of Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly). Medfly is one of the most
destructive agricultural pests in the world, attacking more than 300 cultivated and wild fruits and vegetables. APHIS
through its cooperator Moscamed, produced an average of one billion sterile Medfly per week in 2022 to mitigate
northward movement from Mexico and Guatemala, and to release in high-risk areas of California and Florida on a
preventative basis.
In 2022, the international cooperative program continued addressing Medfly outbreaks that began in 2019, in the
program-designated free areas of Mexico and Guatemala. USDA continued to assist collaborators in Mexico by
funding the additional production of 200 million sterile Medfly for release in Chiapas. Overall, the number of
outbreaks decreased from 1,619 in 2021 to 804 in 2022. APHIS, through the cooperator Moscamed also continued
the production and release of sterile Medfly and aerial bait spray treatments in the program area of Guatemala.
Through these and other efforts, the program focuses on effectively managing Medfly in Guatemala and southern
Mexico and maintaining internationally recognized Medfly-free areas in Peten, Guatemala and Belize which include
approximately 147,900 square kilometers combined.
Since 2015, when the first Medfly outbreak occurred in the Caribbean, APHIS has worked with partner countries in
the region to improve surveillance for Medfly and other exotic fruit flies. In 2022, 8 Caribbean countries participated
in this effort with active trapping and surveillance programs. The number of countries participating was lower than
in past years due to issues associated with the pandemic, weather-related events, issues with infrastructure, and
competing priorities with other pest and disease programs, among others. Going forward, APHIS will continue to
support surveillance in the Caribbean through technical assistance and work with partners to continue to increase
participation in this early warning network as resources allow.
Domestically, APHIS and State cooperators maintain the cooperative Preventative Release Program, which releases
sterile fruit flies in high-risk areas to prevent any introduced Medflies or Mexican fruit flies (Mexflies) from
reproducing and establishing a population in the United States. In the Los Angeles area in California, APHIS and
cooperators release 120 million sterile Medfly per week, and in four port areas in Florida, 80 million per week.
APHIS and cooperators also maintain a detection network of more than 160,000 traps in California, Florida, New
York, Puerto Rico, Texas, and other States vulnerable to exotic fruit fly incursions. When outbreaks occur, APHIS
and cooperators implement immediate emergency response activities to eradicate them. APHIS and CDFA
completed eradication for two exotic fruit fly outbreaks in June 2022 and detected three new outbreaks in summer
2022, including an Oriental fruit fly (OFF) outbreak in Los Angeles County, an OFF outbreak in Orange County,
and a Mexfly outbreak in the San Diego County. The Los Angeles and Orange County outbreaks are in residential
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areas and do not impact agriculture. APHIS and CDFA completed eradication for the Los Angeles County OFF
quarantine at the end of September. APHIS established an incident management team for the Mexfly outbreak,
which covers more than 4,000 acres of agricultural production. The program’s regulations allow growers who
implement required protocols to ship their products out of the quarantined area. APHIS is releasing approximately
11 million sterile Mexflies per week in the area along with implementing trapping and regulatory protocols. APHIS
expects to complete the remaining two responses in summer 2023.
In 2022, the program continued response activities for ongoing Mexfly outbreaks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley,
the home of the Texas citrus industry, which experiences frequent incursions of the pest. During 2022, the program
enhanced sterile fly release activities and worked with growers to identify additional measures to help contain the
outbreak. Growers removed unmanaged groves, eliminating reservoirs of Mexfly host material. With the sterile fly
program enhancements and grower cooperation, the program was able to reduce the size of the quarantine from
1,172 square miles at its largest point to 191 square miles at the end of the fiscal year. The commercial citrus
acreage under quarantine was reduced from more than 9,000 acres to approximately 850 acres. The program expects
to complete the response in November 2022 and release the area from quarantine. In 2022, APHIS began the
transition of the strain of sterile Mexflies released in Texas from the Willacy strain (where both males and females
are released) to the black pupae strain, which allows males and females to be separated. Releasing only male sterile
flies improves efficiency in controlling wild Mexfly populations.
APHIS also continued to address the European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) in northwestern New York during 2022.
APHIS and cooperators in New York enforce quarantine regulations over the 3,223 square-mile affected area to
reduce the risk that ECFF will spread to other cherry-producing areas. Cherry producers can mitigate damage the
pest may cause to crops through current management practices. In 2022, APHIS worked with cherry producers to
streamline regulatory measures that allow the movement of cherries out of the quarantine areas. In place of requiring
trapping in orchards, inspectors now conduct “float tests” in the orchard and at the processing plants—when the
cherries are submerged in water, fruit fly life stages float to the surface—to determine whether any ECFF are present
in shipments. This change reduces requirements for growers in their fields while meeting the goal of preventing
ECFF from spreading through cherry shipments.
APHIS and cooperators also work to address NOW and Phytopthora ramorum (P. ramorum). In 2022, APHIS and
cooperators in California and Arizona continued implementation of the NOW areawide program, targeting the moth,
which is a serious pest of tree nut crops including almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. Adult moths lay eggs through
gaps in the nut hulls or shells, where newly hatched larvae feed and contaminate the nuts with insect waste and
secondary fungal spores that may produce poisonous aflatoxins. APHIS uses its Phoenix Rearing Facility (PRF) in
Arizona to produce sterile NOW moths and ships them to California where they are released by airplane over
participating pistachio and almond orchards. APHIS produced and released approximately 750,000 sterile NOW
moths per day for early-season releases in the spring over half of the acreage with the emerging generation of wild
NOW moths, and increased production to approximately 1.5 million per day in the summer. APHIS continued to
provide a portion of the sterile NOW moths for research initiatives conducted by ARS and the University of
California-Riverside. APHIS and cooperators continue to evaluate the impact of the release of sterile moths and the
other integrated pest management measures on NOW in tree nut crops.
APHIS protects natural resources and nursery stock production and trade by limiting the spread of P. ramorum from
quarantine areas and affected nurseries through regulatory strategies and adoption of mitigations and changes to
cultural practices. P. ramorum, which causes sudden oak death, can be moved through host nursery stock and can
affect a variety of forest trees. The disease is present in coastal northern California (affecting 16 counties in the
State) and a small area in Curry County, Oregon. In 2022, Oregon State officials continued surveys related to a
positive detection outside the quarantined area the previous year. APHIS will update quarantine regulations to
include the new area when the delimiting surveys are completed. Because of the presence of P. ramorum in the
surrounding environment, nurseries within the quarantine area that ship interstate must meet annual certification
survey and sampling requirements to prevent the movement of potentially infested material. The program also
regulates nurseries outside the quarantine area that have been confirmed positive for P. ramorum in plants, water, or
other regulated articles. The nurseries must remain free of P. ramorum for three consecutive years to be deregulated.
All positive interstate shipping nurseries must participate in a compliance program using protocols to eliminate the
pathogen and implement required mitigations focused on critical control points to reduce the risk of reintroduction.
Currently, 19 nurseries participate in the program. In 2022, three nurseries completed the program, and APHIS
released them from the program requirements.
In 2022, APHIS reclassified LBAM as a nonquarantine pest and removed the domestic LBAM quarantine
regulations in California and Hawaii effective December 17, 2021. When APHIS first confirmed detections of
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LBAM in the United States in 2007, the best science available indicated that this moth would be a pest of economic
significance. Over time, however, it became clear that LBAM does not cause as much crop damage as initially
anticipated. APHIS is revising import requirements for certain fruits imported from Australia and New Zealand by
removing the requirement for a phytosanitary certificate containing an additional declaration that states the shipment
is free of LBAM. These changes will comply with international standards under the International Plant Protection
Convention, which do not allow for countries to regulate imports for a specific pest more than it regulates it
domestically.
Through all these activities, APHIS directly protects nursery stock production worth approximately $1.3 billion in
2019, and tree fruit production worth approximately $1.7 billion in 2021 (APHIS internal analysis based on National
Agricultural Statistics Survey data). By preventing pests and diseases like exotic fruit flies and P. ramorum from
spreading to new areas, the program indirectly protects approximately $6.8 billion in fruit and nursery stock
production (APHIS internal analysis based on National Agricultural Statistics Survey data).
Potatoes
APHIS addresses two major potato pests, pale cyst nematode (PCN) in Idaho and the golden nematode (GN) in New
York. In 2021, these programs protected 935,200 acres of U.S. potatoes, valued at $4.1 billion. In 2021, the United
States exported more than 596,000 metric tons ($275.8 million) of fresh and seed potatoes. APHIS and cooperators
have confined each to a relatively small area and continue survey and regulatory efforts to protect export markets for
U.S. potatoes from 36 States. In 2022, APHIS processed 6,398 soil samples for the PCN eradication effort in Idaho,
and 5,493 samples from detection surveys in other States. PCN has not been detected outside of Idaho, and
fumigations of infested fields in Idaho have reduced PCN populations by 99 percent since the pest was first detected
in 2006. In 2022, the program conducted 1,701 regulatory treatments of farm equipment to prevent the spread of
PCN out of regulated areas. There are currently 32 PCN-infested fields, and the current regulated area is 6,568 acres,
of which 3,542 acres are infested fields, and 3,026 acres are associated fields. The infested fields are in an 8.5-mile
radius that spans a portion of northern Bingham County and southern Bonneville County. In 2022, the program
conducted eradication treatments on 5 infested fields, totaling 452 acres. In the treated fields that no longer show
PCN viability, according to a greenhouse bioassay test, producers can plant potatoes with continued monitoring by
APHIS and cooperators to ensure PCN is not present. During the greenhouse bioassay (three rounds of greenhouse
bioassay that is the equivalent of three crop cycles), the program tests the viability of any PCN nematodes found in
the soil. If the nematodes are found to be non-viable (they fail to reproduce under favorable conditions in the
presence of a host), the fields from which they came are eligible to immediately return to potato production at the
landowners’ discretion. The PCN program requires infested fields that return to potato production to undergo full-
field surveys following each of three subsequent potato crops to check for viable PCN populations. These fields
remain regulated but benefit from reduced sanitation requirements. In 2022, farmers planted potatoes in three
eligible fields; this is the first round of in-field bioassay for two of the fields and the second round of in-field
bioassay for the third field. The fields will be sampled following harvest and analyzed for the presence of viable
nematodes. The program is working with ARS, the University of Idaho, and other cooperators to develop PCN-
resistant potato varieties. APHIS has funded several projects on PCN-resistant potato varieties through Plant
Protection Act 7721 for this long-term effort.
In 2022, APHIS and New York cooperators continued an effective survey and regulatory program targeting GN with
a focus on deregulation of all eligible land. Adopting strategies used in the more recently established PCN program,
the GN program is focusing on fields that are either infested or associated with infested fields rather than political
boundaries such as townships. APHIS, working closely with the New York State Department of Agriculture and
Markets (NY AGM), has removed more than 1 million acres from the GN regulated area in New York since 2010,
allowing several farmers to grow their crops without restrictions. APHIS continues to manage an active control and
mitigation program to prevent GN from spreading from the remaining 90,307 regulated acres, including 5,945 acres
that are infested with GN in portions of 8 New York counties. The program enforces regulations designed to prevent
the spread of GN and requires sanitation treatments of on farm equipment and other items moving out of the
quarantined area. In 2022, the program processed 8,084 soil samples for the GN deregulation effort in New
York. The program conducted 268 regulatory treatments of farm and earthmoving equipment to prevent the spread
of GN out of regulated areas and certified 3 shipments of potatoes to Canada, totaling 160,000 pounds. APHIS has
cooperated with ARS, NY AGM, and Cornell University to develop GN-resistant potato varieties for several
decades. The program is now headquartered at a newly renovated laboratory on the Cornell University campus to
continue this and other work on methods of eradicating GN. The program has developed a total of 45 GN-resistant
varieties. Because the pest can overcome resistance, continued development of new GN-resistant varieties is
necessary.
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Together, these efforts to address PCN and GN protect 300,000 acres of potatoes in Idaho, valued at $981 million in
2020 (National Agricultural Statistics Survey Quick Stats), and 14,300 acres in New York valued at $45 million in
2018 (National Agricultural Statistics Survey 2018 Potatoes Summary). These programs indirectly protect
approximately one million acres of potato production nationwide worth $2.9 billion in 2020 (APHIS analysis using
National Agricultural Statistics Survey data).
Canine Detection and Surveillance
APHIS continued developing the use of canines for pest surveillance efforts in 2022, focusing on SLF, Japanese
beetle, and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in 2022. APHIS provided funding to Auburn University College of
Veterinary Medicine’s Canine Production Sciences program for the projects. Through the agreement, Auburn will
continue developing the use of canine detectors for SLF early detection efforts. Auburn will also continue testing the
use of canines to detect Japanese beetle larvae as part of an effort to prevent the pest from becoming established in
Oregon and to detect frass left by ALB to enhance ALB detection efforts. The program also provided a portion of
the funding for ongoing support of the ACP-focused canine teams in California and the mollusk and parcel
inspection teams in Florida.
Apple Snail
The apple snail is an invasive snail from South America that has been found in Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. It has a negative impact on rice and crawfish production in
affected areas. APHIS, working with ARS, has developed a multi-year project aimed at identifying methods to
control the snail. The project will include a report on the lethality of commercially available chemicals on multiple
apple snail life stages; a listing of the effective cultural and mechanical controls compatible with rice and crawfish
production; a list of recovered parasites relevant to the rice, crayfish, and catfish industries, as well as human health;
and an assay for the detection of apple snails in water samples collected from production systems. APHIS will
provide funding for the project to ARS in 2023, and ARS will conduct the work with cooperators from Louisiana
State University and Mississippi State University.
7. Tree & Wood Pests
The Tree and Wood Pests (TWP) program protects forests, private working lands, and natural resources from the
Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), emerald ash borer (EAB), gypsy moths, and most recently shot hole borers (SHB).
Numerous native hardwood tree species that are common throughout the United States are vulnerable to these pests.
APHIS cooperates with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, organizations, and institutions to conduct survey,
regulatory, control, and outreach activities in 48 States to manage or, in some cases, eradicate these pests.
Conserving forests enhances the economic vitality of rural communities by supporting forest-related industries,
recreation and tourism, and the overall livability of communities. The value of forest products that APHIS protects is
over $200 billion (U.S. Forest Service, USFS). In addition, trees in residential areas lower cooling bills, filter
pollutants from the air, decrease runoff, and improve residents’ quality of life (U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency).
Asian longhorned beetle
The ALB threatens forest resources nationwide, as roughly 30 percent of U.S. trees are potential ALB hosts. The
program’s ALB eradication activities prevent multi-billion-dollar losses to the maple syrup, timber, tree nursery,
trade, and tourism industries.
ALB was first detected in Brooklyn, New York, in August 1996, and was later found in other areas of New
York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, and in 2020, Charleston, South Carolina. The program has
successfully eradicated ALB from Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; Islip, Staten Island, Brooklyn,
Queens, and Manhattan, New York; Jersey City, Middlesex County, and Union County, New Jersey; and
Batavia, Stonelick, and Monroe Townships, Ohio. The program continues to match State and Federal quarantine
boundaries and conduct activities in regulated areas of New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, and South Carolina.
APHIS’ eradication strategy for ALB includes surveys, regulatory inspections and quarantine restrictions,
removal of infested and high-risk trees, and chemical treatment applications. APHIS conducts several cycles of
surveys to determine the scope of infestation, establish a quarantine area, identify trees to remove or treat,
determine if the pest has spread outside of the established quarantine area, and determine when to release an
area from quarantine. A survey cycle, which is the time it takes to complete a survey of a given area, can take
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several years depending on the size of the area, the density and type of trees in the area, and type of landscape or
land use. APHIS can declare eradication after a minimum of four years between the last detection of the pest in
a given area and the completed final survey cycle, when APHIS can declare eradication. APHIS provides
ongoing support to evaluate new methods and protocols to combat ALB and tailors project responses to site-
specific conditions, resulting in a more efficient program. Currently, each regulated area is at a different stage of
eradication and faces unique, local conditions. In 2022, the program surveyed a total of more than 656,000 trees
across the four regulated areas.
In the Long Island, New York, outbreak, the program surveyed 42,515 trees and found only 14 new infested
trees in 2022. The program prepared for additional removals of high-risk host trees in the quarantined zone by
contacting and gaining approval from homeowners. Tree removals will take place in 2023. The New York ALB
program also collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on a risk-based model for beetle dispersal using
past infested tree data to help determine areas of low risk and where to prioritize survey efforts. The program
has surveyed a cumulative 1.7 million trees in Long Island over the program’s life and removed more than 8,000
trees.
To address ALB in Worcester County, Massachusetts, the program continued ongoing survey efforts—
surveying nearly 266,000 trees in densely wooded, hard-to-access areas in 2022. The program found no new
infested trees in Massachusetts, indicating the program is making progress. Over the program’s lifetime, the
program has surveyed more than 10 million trees and removed 36,263 high-risk host and infested trees.
In Tate Township, Ohio, the program surveyed nearly 279,000 trees, found 77 new infested trees, and removed
more than 1,000 infested and high-risk host trees in 2022. After completing final surveys of host trees in a
portion of the quarantined area, APHIS issued a Federal Order to remove 7.5 square miles of the ALB
quarantine area of East Fork State Park, in Batavia and Williamsburg Townships, Clermont County, Ohio.
Surveying and infested tree removal efforts continued in the remaining 49 square miles of the Ohio quarantine
area. The program has surveyed a cumulative 4.3 million trees in Ohio and removed approximately 115,000
since the initial detection in 2011.
In 2022, efforts in South Carolina (the most recently detected outbreak) focused on ALB surveys in the southern
part of the quarantine area and removal of infested and high-risk host trees in the core area of the infestation.
This regulated area includes forested and wetland areas, making access for surveys and tree removals
challenging. Experienced staff from other ALB regulated areas deployed to the South Carolina outbreak to
provide support. The program surveyed nearly 69,000 trees and removed 1,530 in 2022. In South Carolina, the
program has surveyed approximately 142,000 trees since 2020 and removed approximately 6,500.
In 2019, the program began investigating the use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) equipped with digital
cameras as an additional survey tool. In 2020 and 2021, travel related COVID-19 restrictions delayed the
investigation of the tool in the field. In 2022, the program conducted the UAS evaluation to determine if it could
inspect ALB damage and conduct host tree mapping. The results of the testing concluded that the camera
performance was insufficient for visual surveys under the tree canopy, and it was not able to accurately diagnose
ALB damage. However, the UAS has the potential to map locations of ALB host trees. The program may
consider the use of UASs to determine locations where ALB host tree surveys are needed and provide host
mapping in areas where ground access is difficult. This includes the wetland areas in South Carolina.
Emerald ash borer
Another forest pest of concern is EAB. In 2002, this pest was first detected in Michigan and has since been
detected in 34 additional States and the District of Columbia. In 2022, APHIS detected EAB in Oregon and
confirmed detections in 42 new counties.
EAB has spread beyond what a regulatory program can control. In 2019, APHIS initiated proposed rulemaking to
deregulate EAB and redirect resources for controlling the spread of this devastating pest using biological control
agents and exploring ways to preserve ash resources. On September 19, 2018, APHIS published a proposed rule in
the Federal Register to remove the EAB Federal domestic quarantine regulations. In 2020, APHIS reviewed and
responded to all comments received during the open public comment period and in 2021, APHIS published the final
rule to remove the Federal domestic EAB quarantine. In 2022, APHIS continued to transition from a regulatory
program to a management and biological control program. In support of the transition, APHIS provided more than
2,000 EAB survey traps and held three webinar training workshops for State and Tribal cooperators in 22 States in
2022.
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The program’s biological control initiative is designed to effectively manage EAB populations. It provides a
promising strategy, using four species of parasitic stingless wasps for long-term EAB management. To date, the
EAB program has cumulatively released a total of more than 8 million parasitic wasps in 369 counties within 31
states and Washington D.C.
APHIS and cooperators continue to assess the impacts of the parasitic wasps on EAB populations and tree health at
release sites and nearby areas. Field evaluations indicate the EAB parasitoid wasps and other EAB natural enemies
are protecting sapling ash from EAB.
Gypsy Moths
European Gypsy Moth (EGM) is a destructive pest for some of North America’s most beautiful and popular
deciduous trees, including maples, oaks, and elms. This pest is established in all or parts of 20 northeastern, mid-
Atlantic, and Midwestern States, as well as the District of Columbia. APHIS and State cooperators conduct
regulatory activities in the quarantine area to prevent the human-assisted spread of the pest and the establishment
of gypsy moth populations in non-quarantine areas. These efforts include inspection, treatment, and certification of
regulated articles for movement from quarantine to non-quarantine (non-infested) areas. The program issues
compliance agreements and conducts public outreach to ensure that businesses and residents in infested areas
comply with regulations to prevent long-distance spread of the pest. EGM also spreads naturally into areas
bordering the quarantined zone. APHIS monitors the transition zone along the 1,200-mile-long border of the
quarantine area to ensure that newly infested areas are added to the quarantined zone and regulated effectively.
Working with the USFS and the EGM Slow-the-Spread Foundation, APHIS and cooperators have greatly reduced
the rate of EGM’s spread and eradicated isolated populations, preventing this pest from becoming a larger issue. In
2022, APHIS and State cooperators continued to conduct EGM surveys to detect, delimit, and eradicate any
isolated populations.
Asian gypsy moth (AGM) is an invasive threat to North American urban and natural forests because of its broad
host range, demonstrated damage potential, and its ability to compromise an effective management system that has
taken nearly 100 years of research to assemble. AGM poses a particular risk to western areas because of its ability
to hitchhike on shipping vessels from Asia. APHIS supports the exclusion of AGM through negotiations and
support of offshore ship inspection and certification. Due to an increase in AGM egg masses that were intercepted
on ships in 2012, APHIS, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, and the Canada
Food Inspection Agency conducted increased outreach to the maritime shipping trade over the last several years.
In 2022, APHIS and State cooperators performed a precision delimitation response, to determine if there was a
population present in Washington following a single AGM detection in 2021. The precision delimit response did
not detect any additional moths. Additionally in 2022, APHIS supported post-treatment delimitation responses
following eradication treatments for a single detection of AGM in Washington and for EGM at a single location in
Minnesota. The program and its partners also conducted delimiting surveys in California and Oregon, for AGM
that were detected in 2019 and 2020. The surveys did not detect any additional moths.
Shot Hole Borers
Various non-native shot hole borers have been detected in several States and hosts, including numerous woody trees
in forests and urban landscapes, cultivated tea, and avocado. Shot hole borers are also called ambrosia beetles
because they have a symbiotic relationship with ambrosia fungi, which they vector from tree to tree. The fungi
disrupt the vascular system of impacted trees. In recent years the polyphagous and Kuroshio shot hole borers and
diseases they cause have been devastating riparian habitats in southern California and urban areas in other parts of
California. At California’s request, APHIS and USFS helped establish a working group, led by USFS, with the goal
of strategically addressing the shot hole borers in California.
In 2022, APHIS continued to provide support for addressing the management of shot hole borers in California. This
support included, assisting with the foreign exploration of biological control agents and continuing efforts to
determine host specificity of parasitoids on SHB populations. APHIS plans to continue these projects in 2023.
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Selected Examples of Recent Progress – Wildlife Services:
1. W
ildlife Damage Management
APHIS provides Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts. Specifically, APHIS works to protect
agriculture, human health and safety, property, and natural resources from disease and damage caused by wildlife.
Cooperator participation and support is critical to the success of the Wildlife Damage Management Program.
APHIS' wildlife biologists coordinate activities in every State and in three Territories with Federal, State and
Territorial agencies, Tribes, local governments, private homeowners, farmers, ranchers, and other property owners
to protect agriculture, human health and safety, natural resources, and property.
Agriculture
Feral swine are a harmful and destructive invasive species which cause significant damage to property, agricultural
animal health and crops, natural resources, public health and native ecosystems. To address this problem, APHIS
initiated the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program in 2014, with the goal of reducing damage and
risk to agriculture, natural resources, property, animal health, and human health and safety in the United States.
Ongoing research indicates that damages and control costs from feral swine could exceed $2.5 billion annually.
The Agency’s damage management strategy for feral swine provides resources and expertise at a national level,
while allowing flexibility to manage operational activities from a local or State perspective. Collaboration with other
Federal, State, Tribal, and local entities, universities, and organizations, along with landowners and others
experiencing damage, is essential for controlling the spread of feral swine and suppressing or, where possible,
eliminating populations. In 2022, APHIS conducted cooperative, cost-share operational feral swine activities on
approximately 231 million acres in 36 States and 3 Territories. APHIS considers feral swine eliminated from a State
in detection status after the State is able to complete two years of monitoring with no additional sightings. Since the
program began in 2014, APHIS and partners have successfully eliminated feral swine from six States (Colorado,
Idaho, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York), and recognizes five States (Iowa, Minnesota, Vermont,
Washington, and Wisconsin) in detection status.
APHIS also expedited its feral swine eradication efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in response to the
increased threat of African swine fever (ASF). The Agency established a goal of eliminating feral swine from
islands with low numbers and significantly reducing populations in areas with high numbers within 18 months. In
2022, APHIS conducted enhanced operational population control and ASF surveillance activities in the U.S.
Caribbean territories, and also initiated ASF surveillance in four states (Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida) in
counties determined to be at very high risk of ASF entry from Hispaniola. In addition to feral swine removal and
sampling activities, APHIS conducted outreach and stakeholder engagement to ensure continuing partnership and
cooperation with the local communities.
In collaboration with our partners, APHIS collected more than 6,000 samples from individual feral swine to conduct
surveillance on diseases of national concern with implications for domestic livestock and public health in 2022.
Other activities include, conducting economic analyses to better assess feral swine damage to agriculture, livestock,
and limited resource farmers; collecting and analyzing environmental DNA to detect feral swine presence through
genetic markers in water; and maintaining a National Feral Swine Genetic Archive to assess the human movement
of feral swine from source populations. Finally, the Agency, along with State and university partners, is working to
develop a feral swine toxicant to help control feral swine populations. The Agency has continued refinements to the
sodium nitrite bait and baiting strategies, which are allowing for maximum efficacy on feral swine while reducing
risks to nontarget species. A final field trial will be conducted in 2023 and results will be analyzed and written up for
submission and consideration for registration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The timeframe to
registration is dependent on EPA review times and potential further required studies.
While predators serve a vital role in ecosystems, they pose challenges for agriculture producers in the United States.
Livestock losses attributed to predators cost producers approximately $232 million annually, according to the most
recent surveys by National Agriculture Statistics Service. APHIS prevents and reduces livestock predation through
technical assistance (education and outreach) to producers, and operational management programs. In 2022, APHIS
provided assistance to nearly 8,000 livestock producers. APHIS and cooperators often share the cost of APHIS-
conducted livestock protection activities. In 2022, APHIS conducted 72 predator management workshops attended
by more than 3,000 individuals from 14 States.
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In collaboration with State wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and Tribes, APHIS
conducts wolf damage management programs, and provides additional services to capture and mark wolves for
research and population monitoring purposes. Upon request, and with appropriate authorizations, APHIS may
remove depredating wolves to resolve conflicts. In 2022, livestock producers reported 1,324 animals killed by
wolves. APHIS responded by providing a combination of direct control and technical assistance for wolf conflict to
762 stakeholders. APHIS provides technical assistance to producers on preventative measures to supplement direct
control activities, which producers then implement themselves.
Nonlethal wildlife damage management often involves modifying human activities and practices, manipulating
habitats, and other actions to change the behavior of wildlife or reduce its presence and impact. In 2022, APHIS
promoted nonlethal methods to cooperators in the form of range riding, fladry, fencing, and husbandry practices.
The Agency continued efforts initiated in 2021 with additional funding provided to increase and expand use of
nonlethal methods in 13 States to protect livestock from large carnivore predators.
Black vulture populations have increased in both abundance and range during the past 30 years. The Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, enforced by the FWS, protects black vultures, which prey on livestock. Under the Migratory Treaty Bird
Act, the public cannot kill, destroy, or remove migratory birds, their nests, or their eggs without a Migratory Bird
Depredation Permit from FWS. APHIS works collaboratively with FWS recommending short and long-term options
to provide producers with relief from damage. If removing vultures is necessary, APHIS assists producers in
obtaining a depredation permit from FWS. With cooperator funding, APHIS conducted direct control in 22 States in
2022, removing 13,154 black vultures and dispersing 83,454 black vultures to protect agriculture, human health and
safety, and property (including buildings, cattle, vehicles, utilities, and sheep, among others), in addition to
providing technical assistance to guide private management efforts.
Fish-eating birds, especially double-crested cormorants, can have major impacts on the U.S. aquaculture industry.
According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, annual aquaculture production in the United States is valued at
$1.5 billion (USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service), and research from the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture estimates that the catfish aquaculture industry incurs an average loss of $64.7 million in costs associated
with bird damage and damage prevention (losses ranged from $33.5 to $92.6 million). APHIS provides operational
and technical assistance to aquaculture producers, particularly on roost management of double-crested cormorant,
harassment of fish-eating birds on catfish facilities, and helping farmers acquire depredation permits under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Work is concentrated at lower Mississippi valley and southeastern aquaculture facilities
in the fall and winter. In 2022, APHIS removed 1,190 and dispersed,117,551 double-crested cormorants to protect
aquaculture.
Human Health and Safety
Rabies is one of the oldest known viral diseases, yet it remains a significant wildlife management and public health
challenge. APHIS is the lead Federal agency to prevent the further spread of wildlife rabies, with the goal of
eliminating rabies in carnivores in the United States using oral rabies vaccination (ORV). In 2022, APHIS and
cooperators distributed more than 8.5 million ORV baits to combat raccoon rabies in 15 eastern States and more
than 1.2 million in Texas to prevent the reemergence of rabies in coyotes and gray foxes along the border with
Mexico. This is a continuation of the strategic distribution of more than 226 million baits since the program began in
1995. These programs have eliminated canine rabies in coyotes, resulting in the United States being declared canine
rabies free in 2007; the elimination of gray fox rabies from Texas (no cases since 2013); and containment of raccoon
rabies in the eastern United States. An internal economic analysis projected a $1.1 billion economic impact over 22
years in the absence of the APHIS-led ORV program, due to an increased need in human post-exposure treatment,
livestock and pet losses and impacts to wildlife resources. Since 2005, APHIS has conducted more than 119,000
tests using a rapid rabies diagnostic field procedure, documenting more than 2,400 rabies cases that, in turn,
facilitated science-based wildlife rabies management responses. In 2022, APHIS collected more than 4,300 raccoon
blood samples in 14 States to estimate rabies antibody levels in ORV zones. APHIS also coordinates with
international partners through the North American Rabies Management Plan – which includes the United States,
Canada, Mexico and the Navajo Nation – on information transfer, prevention and control, surveillance and
monitoring, and research. In 2022, APHIS continued research focused on six main objectives: evaluation of
biomarkers for determining vaccine bait uptake by raccoons; evaluation and harmonization of rabies laboratory
diagnostic platforms; improvements of vaccines, baits, and attractants to enhance ORV; refinement of baiting
strategies in suburban and urban habitats; development of an ORV program in Puerto Rico; and host ecology,
genetics, and modeling to enhance surveillance and ORV.
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Increased air traffic, faster and quieter aircraft, increased populations of some Federally protected species of birds,
and other wildlife all impact the safety of aircraft, particularly in rural communities. Since 1988, bird and other
wildlife strikes have destroyed more than 304 civilian and military aircraft and killed 305 people globally. With
funding provided by airports, and other Federal, State, and local cooperators, APHIS works to reduce wildlife strike
hazards to protect people and aircraft. APHIS estimates the annual value of damage prevented from wildlife strikes
exceeds $100 million. In 2022, APHIS mitigated wildlife hazards by assisting nearly 784 civil and military airports
worldwide which included 148 Department of Defense airports in domestic and international settings.
Property
Beaver damage in the southeastern United States has exceeded $3 billion during the last 40 years. To address and
prevent costly beaver damage, APHIS provide assistance by removing beaver dams that clog waterways and flood
roads and timber sources. Every dollar invested in beaver damage management protects approximately $45 in
natural resources on average. With cooperator funding, APHIS conducted beaver damage management activities in
45 States in 2022.
Natural Resources
Non-native, invasive animals can devastate ecosystems. APHIS focuses on eliminating damage from brown tree
snakes (BTS), feral swine, nutria, and other invasive species. In Guam, BTS have eliminated most species of native
birds, lizards, and bats, and continue to cause power outages leading to economic losses and public safety problems.
In 2022, with funding other Federal departments and the Guam Department of Agriculture, APHIS continued the
multi-agency partnership to prevent BTS movement from Guam to other Pacific Islands, Hawaii, and the continental
United States. It is through this partnership that the Agency removed approximately 11,467 BTS in 2022 from Guam
via programs at Department of Defense (DoD) and civilian ports, DoD on-base housing and contractor facilities, and
the Guam power substations and transmission lines.
Nutria damage wetlands, agricultural crops, and structural foundations such as dikes and roads. This South
American rodent has destroyed tens of thousands of acres of marshlands critical to the health of the Chesapeake
Bay. Between 2002 and 2015, APHIS, in cooperation with Federal and State agencies and private landowners,
removed nutria from more than 250,000 acres of coastal marshland on the Delmarva Peninsula (encompassing
Maryland’s eastern shore, lower Delaware and Virginia’s eastern shore). APHIS continued to monitor the area to
remove remaining nutria and conduct rigorous systematic surveys. In 2022, APHIS surveyed 694 miles (including
by foot, boat, and canine) in 23 watersheds.
On September 16, 2022, nutria was officially declared eradicated from the Delmarva Peninsula. This marked the
culmination of two decades of effort. The Chesapeake Bay Detector Dog Program, born out of a need to detect
remaining nutria in extremely low-density populations, proved to be critical for removing the final of residual
animals. Innovative detection and removal techniques developed on the project were successfully applied in other
states and countries to combat nutria and other invasive species. The elimination of nutria from the Delmarva
Peninsula has protected remaining wetlands and the culturally, ecologically, and economically important fish and
wildlife that depend on them. APHIS continues to partner with Federal and State agencies to conduct surveillance in
Virginia and begin eradication efforts in eastern Virginia. This project is funded by FWS’ Ecological Services and
the Mid-Atlantic Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species.
APHIS partners with various Federal and State resource agencies, private organizations, and community groups to
conduct damage management benefiting protected bird species by preventing predation from other birds and
mammals to nests, eggs, and juveniles. APHIS has estimated damages or damage threats to birds, including
threatened and endangered species, to be more than $70 million annually. Approximately 7,250 projects across 50
States, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, benefitted protected species in 2022.
2. Wildlife Services Methods Development
Wildlife Services uses Methods Development (WSMD) funding to research effective and socially responsible
methods and information to manage conflicts between people and wildlife to protect agriculture, natural resources,
and human health and safety. WSMD provides research in support of the Agency’s project areas such as feral swine
and other invasive species, agriculture protection, rabies, wildlife disease, and population and reproduction control,
among others. APHIS’ National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) provides the only dedicated Federal leadership
in developing methods to manage wildlife-related damage problems. Scientists work on a variety of wildlife damage
management problems through discovery, development, and technology transfer and use of products and
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management methods to Wildlife Services operational programs as well as public and private partners. The majority
of NWRC studies involve partnerships with State and Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations,
universities, tribal governments, and private sector businesses. In 2022, NWRC had 197 active studies, produced
109 publications, collaborated with 171 entities and had over 141,000 downloads from Digital Commons, a public
platform for sharing research documents.
Agriculture
The WSMD Program develops methods to safeguard livestock from predators, manage invasive species, and
minimize the impact of wildlife diseases. The following are examples of efforts to protect American agriculture,
which includes protecting resources related to farming and ranching such as livestock, crops, animal products and
other associated industries.
The APHIS National Feral Swine Damage Management Program protects agricultural and natural resources,
property, animal health, and human health and safety from feral swine damage. NWRC improves the efficiency of
existing control methods and develops new strategies to ensure the program and partners use safe, acceptable, and
science-based management tools. In 2022, APHIS continued efforts to develop a feral swine toxicant, optimize
control methods, monitor feral swine populations, assess damage to agriculture and natural resources, and
understand public perceptions related to feral swine.
A toxicant and delivery system will serve as a critical component to reduce feral swine populations and the damage
they cause in the long-term. In 2022, the NWRC continued refinements to the bait and baiting strategies, which will
allow the maximum efficacy on feral swine while reducing risks to nontarget species. Field trials with a new toxic
bait formulation were conducted to evaluate the lethality and non-target hazards of the toxic bait. Data from the field
trials were analyzed in 2022 and results will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of
the toxicant registration application. An additional field trial is planned in Texas in 2023 to gather data on the
toxicant’s use and effectiveness during winter months. APHIS plans to submit a registration application to the EPA
in 2023 and anticipates a final decision from EPA by 2025.
APHIS, in collaboration with the state of Missouri and university partners, conducted an analysis of organizations
involved in feral swine management in Missouri, including identifying which organizations serve as major
communication hubs on feral swine issues. This study provides a foundation for a 2023 qualitative case study to
better understand how Missouri has generated and maintained momentum to remove feral swine in the State. The
goal of the research is to determine whether there are best practices that can benefit other States’ feral swine policy
and management strategies.
Black vulture populations are increasing and expanding their range in North America. This, combined with their
ability to adapt well to human dominated landscapes, has contributed to increased human–vulture conflicts. In 2022,
APHIS continued to document trends in black vulture conflicts, reviewed available management strategies,
identified knowledge gaps, and provided recommendations to enhance the management and understanding of this
species. Agency researchers also assessed the role of human-based and natural landscape features on vulture roost
selection to inform managers where current and future roosts may likely occur. In 2021, APHIS found vulture
conflicts with livestock are increasing, as well as damages associated with private and public property, and
collisions between vultures and aircraft. APHIS partnered with Purdue University in 2022 to survey livestock
producers about their experiences with vultures and vulture damage. Results showed 38 percent of cattle producers
in Indiana reported livestock losses due to black vultures. In addition, researchers mapped black vulture livestock
predation risk in a six-State area. Managers and researchers will use these results to identify areas of potential
nesting and roosting locations that can be targeted for future research and management actions, predict bird travel
patterns, and identify counties that may benefit from stakeholder outreach for black vulture-livestock conflict and
mitigation measures.
In 2022, APHIS received funding for nonlethal methods to assist livestock producers with managing depredation by
large predators. The funds were primarily utilized in 13 States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Most States used
funding to install fencing to exclude predators from livestock pastures or to hire range riders to protect livestock
from predators by providing a human presence with the livestock. Agency researchers evaluated the effectiveness of
these and other techniques to reduce conflicts, and surveyed producers about their perceptions of the tools’
effectiveness. Early findings from these evaluations show that nonlethal tools, especially range riding and fencing,
reduced depredations on livestock. Among nonlethal methods for reducing predation, the use of range riders was
perceived to be effective or somewhat effective by the greatest percentage of producers, followed by electric
fencing, guardian animals, nonelectric permanent fencing, and fladry. The Agency found a nearly 40 percent
increase in participants willingness to continue to use nonlethal methods after participating in the Agency led efforts.
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Natural Resources
Invasive and feral species can have profound and transformative effects on native plants, animals, and ecosystems.
APHIS aids in designing, implementing, and evaluating wildlife damage management activities on islands and other
sensitive habitats; coordinates and provides guidance on the legal use and registration of vertebrate control methods;
and assists in protecting reintroduced or recovering native species.
In 2022, APHIS continued to aid the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other agencies seeking solutions to
resolve damage from overabundant feral horse populations. NWRC completed projects at Theodore Roosevelt
National Park in North Dakota to document GonaCon-Equine’s long-term effectiveness to limit reproduction in
free-ranging feral horses, both as a single-shot vaccine and as a two-shot vaccine series. GonaCon-Equine is an
immuno-contraceptive vaccine developed by NWRC in 2013. In the first two years following the first vaccination
by hand injection, researchers saw fewer foals born to treated versus untreated mares. The effects of the vaccine
lasted even longer after the booster vaccination, with treated females giving birth to fewer foals than untreated mares
for at least three consecutive years. Results on the effectiveness of the two-shot series when given by remote darting
are expected in 2023. APHIS continues to work with agencies to customize procedures for their specific
management areas using this existing tool, while continuing to pursue the development of single-shot contraceptive
vaccines.
In early 2022, APHIS registered GonaCon–Prairie Dogs with the EPA to manage fertility in female black-tailed,
white-tailed, and Gunnison’s prairie dogs. The product may only be used in prairie dog colonies that occur in urban
and suburban areas, open spaces and natural areas, parks, campgrounds, airports, roadway medians, and other non-
crop use sites. Like other GonaCon products, the vaccine must also be registered with the State before use and is
currently registered in Colorado and New Mexico. The registration adds to the suite of GonaCon products for
wildlife.
In 2022, an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) application was submitted to the EPA for a proposed field study for a
new toxic bait, called Fish-based Bait for Mongooses, which contains the active ingredient diphacinone. The
preparation of the EUP application was a collaborative effort between APHIS and industry partners. The bait was
developed to target invasive mongooses and was highly efficacious in a two-choice laboratory efficacy trial. If the
EUP is approved, the bait will be tested in the field in bait stations in Hawaii in conservation areas and ports-of-
entry in 2023.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is found in 30 States and impacts numerous wild and captive populations of deer
and elk. Concerns about the impacts of diseases, such as CWD, on the U.S. livestock industry, and captive and wild
cervid populations continues to prompt research studies on preventing disease outbreaks and minimizing the
transmission of diseases between wildlife and livestock. Starting in 2021 and continuing in 2022, NWRC established
cooperative agreements with universities to enhance existing CWD diagnostic tools; assess the movement of prions
between wild and captive cervid herds; determine the potential role of scavengers, such as crows and coyotes, in the
spread of CWD; and explore the use of environmental monitoring to detect CWD. In 2022, NWRC also established
a new CWD research project and prion laboratory which will oversee both laboratory and field research by the
Agency. APHIS is also developing a prion sample archive to retain samples from APHIS and State CWD
management efforts for use in diagnostic development and future research.
The western Pacific Ocean coral atoll, known as Wake Atoll, is approximately 750 square kilometers
and consists of
three islands: Wake Island, Wilkes Island, and Peale Island. In 2022, APHIS collaborated with the U.S. Air Force
and non-profit groups to conduct risk assessments necessary for future rodent eradications projects on the islands.
The natural and human-made habitats increase the challenges associated with an eradication project. For our part,
the Agency assessed the intertidal and structural baiting environments and assessed site readiness. APHIS is
expected to support the collaborative eradication effort in 2023, as well as future efficacy monitoring.
Human Health and Safety
NWRC develops and evaluates new tools and techniques to address human health and safety issues related to
wildlife disease and aviation safety.
Since 1995, the Agency has been working cooperatively with Federal, State, and local agencies, universities; and
other partners to prevent the spread and reduce the prevalence of rabies in specific wildlife populations. Each year,
APHIS and cooperators distribute more than 8 million oral rabies vaccine baits across 17 States to create vaccination
zones that prevent the spread of raccoon rabies virus. NWRC’s development of new tools and techniques and its
evaluation of disease management strategies supports APHIS’ National Rabies Management Program and its
mission to prevent the spread of wildlife rabies and protect U.S. public health, agriculture, and natural resources. In
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Puerto Rico, mongooses account for 40 to 80 percent of the reported rabies cases. Starting in 2011, APHIS began
efforts to develop a rabies surveillance and control program for mongooses in Puerto Rico by determining the
mongoose population density, home range behavior and habitat use, exposures to rabies virus, effective bait
formulations and delivery mechanisms, in addition to potential nontarget hazards and public health and
environmental risks. In 2022, APHIS continued to evaluate the use of the ONRAB vaccine and bait for controlling
rabies in mongoose. The results have allowed researchers to recommend modifications to the baits’ structure and
shape to improve bait uptake by mongooses.
Collisions between wildlife and aircraft have increased in the past 30 years because of an increase in both hazardous
wildlife species populations and aircraft movements. Through the Wildlife Damage Management program, APHIS
provides operational and technical assistance. In addition, the Agency is conducting a series of trials at airports in
eight States (North Carolina, Oklahoma, Michigan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and
Wisconsin) in partnership with Arkion Life Sciences, LLC on the effectiveness of wildlife repellents at airports. The
Agency has collaborated with Arkion to develop and register Flight Control® Max, an anthraquinone-based wildlife
repellent. Anthraquinone is a naturally occurring compound that is found in more than 200 plant species. When
eaten, anthraquinone has a repellency effect in many wild birds and some wild mammals, including mice, voles,
squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits, raccoons, and feral swine. The project is ongoing, but to date, four of the eight
airports would continue to use the repellent to help reduce wildlife damage and hazards at their facilities. Results
from the trials will support the development of best management practices for the use of repellents at airports.
Partnerships and Technology Transfer
The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 allows Federal laboratories and industry to form partnerships that
enhance the development of new technologies and move them to the marketplace to meet public and consumer
needs. APHIS regularly partners with Federal and State entities, private companies, international groups, and non-
governmental organizations to encourage the development and licensing of new wildlife damage management
products to manage wildlife conflicts. Most NWRC technology development activity and partnerships involve
universities and small businesses. Technologies pursued include development of devices, baits, formulations, and
vaccines. In 2022, NWRC furthered its partnership efforts to make sure its research and development activities had a
path for commercial development and operational management with the following: six Confidentiality Agreements,
three Data Sharing Agreements, fifteen Material Transfer Agreements, nine Material Transfer Research Agreements,
three Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, three Invention Disclosure, two Provisional Patent
Applications, two Non-Provisional Patent Applications, three U.S. patent issued, and four foreign patents issued.
Additionally, a large patent portfolio was initiated in 2022 between the NWRC Repellent Research Project and
Arkion Life Sciences. Over the course of this collaboration, 18 patents have been allowed in the United States and 9
foreign countries, including a global patent under the Patent Control Treaty. APHIS is continuing to make progress
on several patents through this partnership that are still under review in the United States and foreign countries.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress – Regulatory Enforcement:
1. Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement
Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement (APHRE) provides investigative, enforcement, and regulatory
support services to the Agency’s four regulatory programs and Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) activities
carried out in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
APHRE investigates alleged violations of Federal laws under its jurisdiction and pursues appropriate enforcement
actions through administrative, civil, or criminal procedures.
In 2022, APHRE initiated 1,389 new cases, issued 505 official warnings, issued 672 pre-litigation settlements
resulting in the collection of $1,939,534 in stipulated penalties, and obtained administrative orders assessing
$181,750 in civil penalties. The Agency considers a case complete after it issues an official warning or voluntary
settlement to which the recipient agrees, finds there is insufficient evidence to support enforcement action, or refers
a case to the USDA’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). Highlights from APHRE are described below.
To support animal health, APHRE initiated 97 cases, issued 104 official warnings, issued 40 pre-litigation
settlements resulting in the collection of $94,445 in stipulated penalties, and obtained an administrative order
assessing $7,000 in civil penalties against a person for violations of laws aimed at protecting animal health and
American agriculture. In one case, APHIS negotiated a pre-litigation settlement in the amount of $5,500 to resolve
violations of the Animal Health Protection Act relating to the sale of sheep and goats without the required official
identification. In two other cases, accredited veterinarians agreed to pay civil penalties of $5,000 and $4,375 relating
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to the interstate movement of animals without the required documentation, a direct violation of the Animal Health
Protection Act.
To support plant health, APHRE initiated 29 cases, issued 15 official warnings, negotiated 11 pre-litigation
settlement agreements resulting in the collection of $31,031 in stipulated penalties, and obtained 2 administrative
orders assessing $18,750 in civil penalties. In one case, APHRE negotiated a pre-litigation settlement in the amount
of $9,750 that resolved violations of the Plant Protection Act involving the importation of Hass avocados from Peru.
In another case, APHRE negotiated a pre-litigation settlement for $4,750 for violations of the Plant Protection Act
involving non-compliance with ISPM-15 standards for regulating wood packing material in international trade.
To support AQI activities, APHRE initiated 992 cases, issued 182 official warnings, and issued 603 pre-litigation
settlement agreements resulting in the collection of $1,637,813 in stipulated penalties. In one case, APHRE
negotiated a pre-litigation settlement agreement with an Express Carrier in the amount of $491,250 that resolved
hundreds of alleged violations of the Plant Protection Act and the Animal Health Protection Act relating to the
breach of agricultural holds for inspection placed by CBP. In another case, APHRE negotiated a pre-litigation
settlement agreement in the amount of $132,438 to resolve numerous alleged violations of the Plant Protection Act
and the Animal Health Protection Act relating to the handling of regulated garbage.
To support animal welfare, APHRE initiated 262 cases for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA),
issued 204 official warnings, issued 18 pre-litigation settlements resulting in the collection of $176,245 in stipulated
penalties, obtained 17 administrative orders resulting in the assessment of $133,000 in civil penalties, and suspended
or revoked 7 licenses. In one case, APHRE negotiated a pre-litigation settlement agreement in the amount of
$25,650 to resolve alleged violations of the AWA standards including the failure to protect and prevent discomfort
to animals kept outdoors by providing natural or artificial shelter appropriate to the local climatic conditions. In
another case, working with the Office of the General Counsel, APHIS obtained a Default Decision revoking the
respondent’s AWA license and assessing a civil penalty of $53,600 for multiple violations of the AWA.
To support horse protection, APHRE worked with OGC to obtain an administrative order disqualifying 1 person
from participating in activities regulated under the Horse Protection Act for a period of 8 months. In addition,
APHRE initiated 9 new cases for alleged violations of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). These 9 new cases have
been referred to OGC for administrative action. Civil penalties and fines related to these cases are still pending at
this time.
APHRE will continue to post copies of enforcement records (such as initial decision and orders, default decisions,
consent decisions, and administrative complaints) on its website:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/actions
.
2. Biotechnology Regulatory Services
APHIS’ biotechnology regulatory system safeguards American agriculture and agriculturally important resources
and fosters the safe research, development, and commercialization of innovative new agricultural products. Under
the Plant Protection Act’s (PPA) authority, APHIS oversees plants and certain organisms developed using genetic
engineering (modified plants and modified organisms) that may pose a plausible pest risk to plants. The regulations
allow APHIS to place requirements on field testing, importation, and interstate movement of modified plants and
organisms, unless a modified plant is exempt from regulation, or the Agency reviews a modified plant and
determines it is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk.
Regulatory Changes
In 2022, APHIS operated under the new regulatory processes in its revised biotechnology regulations (7 CFR part
340), which were published in May 2020, with a phased implementation throughout 2022. In 2022, APHIS issued
its responses under the Regulatory Status Review (RSR) process and supported the developer community through
the regulatory transition by sharing user guides, commonly asked questions and answers, and regulatory responses
on its website.
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Authorizations
Developers must obtain an authorization for the movement — importation, interstate movement, or environmental
release — for modified plants and organisms unless a modified plant is exempt from regulation or the Agency has
reviewed a modified plant and determines it is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. As part of the authorization process,
APHIS evaluates potential risks associated with regulated activities and may impose specific permit conditions to
ensure modified plants and organism stay confined. In 2022, APHIS issued 758 authorizations to 207 organizations
(academia, developers of all sizes, and government research groups) to use novel plants and organisms developed
using genetic engineering. More specifically, APHIS evaluated 21,670 constructs (a 35 percent increase relative to
16,036 constructs in 2021) and 4,446 planting locations (a 118 percent increase relative to 2,041 locations in 2021)
on 183,075 acres of land in 376 counties across 42 States and U.S. Territories. The Agency completed 98 percent of
2022 authorizations within target timeframes specified in the regulations.
Regulatory Review for Nonregulated or Exempt Status
Prior to adopting the revised regulations, developers could request (or petition) APHIS to remove a modified plant
from regulation if they provided scientific information that demonstrated their plant did not pose an increased plant
pest risk relative to a comparator plant from which it was derived. In 2022, APHIS made one determination of
nonregulated status in response to a petition submitted under the legacy process for a variety of modified soybean,
bringing the cumulative total of APHIS determinations to 136. APHIS continues to review six petitions for
nonregulated status submitted under the legacy regulations.
Under the revised regulations, developers may now request a Regulatory Status Review (RSR) to learn whether a
modified plant is subject to the regulations. The RSR process evaluates whether a plant requires oversight based on
the characteristics of the modified plant itself, rather than on whether the plant was modified using a plant pest, as in
the legacy regulations. In 2022, APHIS received 28 RSRs, 79 percent of which were requests by small-to-medium
sized developers and public institutions in contrast to the legacy regulations where these groups represented just 25
percent of all reviewed products. These requests also included 13 crops that had never been reviewed under the
legacy petition process. APHIS issued 3 responses to RSR requests for a tomato modified for altered color and
nutrition qualities, corn modified for altered animal feed quality for improved digestion, and potato modified for
altered tuber quality (non-browning).
Additionally, APHIS’ new Confirmation Request (CR) process allows developers to voluntarily request a
confirmation from APHIS that a modified plant qualifies for an exemption and is not subject to the regulations. In
2022, APHIS responded to 9 requests for confirmations of exempt status within 39 days, on average, of receiving a
complete request (81 days faster than the timeframe specified in the regulations). All 9 responses were issued to small
or medium sized developers, expediting innovative product development for agricultural use and domestic and
international markets, including, for example, barley with altered germination, petunias with altered flower color,
bananas with altered fruit quality (non-browning), potatoes with altered tuber quality (non-browning), and corn with
altered nutrient quality for use in animal feed.
Compliance and Inspections
APHIS requires developers to comply with permit requirements, to help ensure that modified plants and organisms
remain confined and do not persist in the environment. To ensure regulated activities meet the requirements outlined
in the permit, APHIS inspects fields, equipment, and other associated facilities. In 2022, APHIS oversaw more than
660 inspections. The virtual inspection process, launched in 2018, proved critical for managing travel restrictions
imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, APHIS prepared its inspectors to return to primarily conducting
in-person inspections, concluding the fiscal year with more than 450 in-person inspections and more than 200 virtual
inspections.
BRS has a comprehensive inspection system that uses science and risk criteria to identify any potential
noncompliance. In 2022, approximately 88 percent of inspections were found to be in compliance (589 notices of
compliance and 74 notices of noncompliance) with APHIS biotechnology regulations and permit requirements
during the inspection process. The agency considers additional factors when assessing compliance, including but not
limited to self-reporting of incidents and timeliness of reporting. Compliance rates for these additional factors
averaged approximately 26 percent in 2022.
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APHIS continues to take steps to strengthen its oversight of regulated field trials. In 2022, APHIS continued to use a
risk-based inspection selection process and updated compliance inspection worksheets to align with revised
regulations. APHIS also used technology to enhance digital mapping capabilities and remote sensing to augment
oversight through virtual monitoring and field trial evaluations. Additionally, APHIS updated certain requirements
for field trials authorized under permits, increasing consistency, and improving clarity of requirements for regulated
entities and increasing enforceability of requirements in accordance with the OIG recommendations.
Partnerships
APHIS continued to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) to share information about and improve regulatory oversight of modified plants and organisms. In particular,
APHIS collaborated on the development of an implementation plan for President Biden’s “Advancing
Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.”
APHIS also continues to collaborate with FDA on the “Feed Your Mind” initiative to increase public knowledge of
biotechnology. Additionally, APHIS’ international outreach efforts aim to reduce the likelihood of trade disruptions
by helping countries to focus on practical, risk- and science-based regulatory approaches. As part of these efforts,
APHIS serves as the U.S. government lead of the Working Group on Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in
Biotechnology in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which promotes international
harmonization in environmental risk/safety assessment and regulation of organisms produced through modern
biotechnology.
The Agency is also part of the interagency working group for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as well as its
parent convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity. APHIS engages in capacity building efforts for foreign
regulatory officials and scientific advisors by conducting presentations, participating in international forums, and
serving on committees. In 2022, APHIS delivered approximately 15 presentations and seminars on the revised
regulations to diverse international organizations, regulators, reviewers, and scientists from over 40 countries and
economies and participating in 6 bilateral engagements between regulators and scientists from the United States and
Pakistan, Botswana, Turkey, Korea, Japan, and Egypt. These sustained and consistent efforts helped influence
Kenya and the Philippines to adopt new biotechnology regulations that are expected to shorten approval times and
reduce regulatory burden for commercializing genetically engineered crops, particularly those developed using
genome editing with modifications that do not involve the insertion of foreign DNA (consistent with APHIS’
approach in the revised biotechnology regulations), and Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to
advance proposals with similar approaches.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress – Emergency Management:
1. Emergency Preparedness & Response
The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) program improves APHIS’ capability to prevent, prepare for,
respond to, and recover from animal health emergencies. This program’s goal is to respond to an animal health event
within 24 hours from the time APHIS determines that a federal emergency response is needed to manage an
agricultural outbreak. It develops strategies, policies, and procedures for incident management and response
coordination that meet national and international standards. The program participates in joint Federal, State, and
local animal health and all-hazards test exercises to improve response capabilities. In addition, this program works
with major commodity groups to ensure the continuous movement of livestock products during animal health
emergencies. The EPR program funds activities that enable APHIS to achieve a high state of readiness and be able
to respond rapidly and effectively to emergency events, thus lessening the impact of those events on producers,
consumers, taxpayers, and the overall economy. Also, through this program, APHIS and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) jointly manage the Federal Select Agents Program (FSAP), which oversees the
possession, use, and transfer of biological select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to
public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products.
The EPR program provides national leadership and regional coordinators in the 10 Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) regions for Emergency Support Function #11: Agriculture and Natural Resources (ESF #11).
These coordinators work with local, State, Tribal, Territorial, Insular Area Governments, and other Federal agencies
to prepare for and respond to emergency incidents and disasters. Expertise includes supporting animal and
agricultural health incident responses; providing technical expertise to support animal and agricultural emergency
management; ensuring the safety and defense of the Nation’s supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products;
providing nutrition assistance; and working with the Department of the Interior to ensure the protection of historic
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properties and natural and cultural resources. ESF #11 support mobilizes USDA response capabilities and resources
from APHIS, the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and includes
collaborating with the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development,
which assist in the recovery of disaster-impacted areas. In addition, APHIS provides technical support to FEMA for
the care of pets and service animals during disasters. The EPR program also maintains Emergency Qualification
System dispatchers, who coordinate the delivery of emergency resources, as well as the APHIS security coordinator
program and the Volunteer Emergency Ready Response Corps (VERRC) program, continuity planning, and
Geographic Information System capability during incidents. This program also provides services to protect the
health and safety of Agency personnel. Respirators serve a vital function by protecting workers from significant
hazards and harmful pollutants. In 2022, respirators were used to protect APHIS employees who responded to
multiple outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. APHIS continues to use respirators for this purpose as well
as to protect employees who may respond to emergencies that require protection from hazardous chemical use. To
comply with regulations instituted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, APHIS trains employees
as respirator fit-testers and fit-tests any employees who may be using respirators at least annually to ensure proper
fitting. APHIS had 131 trained fit-testers on staff as of the end of 2022 (compared to 164 at the end of 2021) and had
719 employees on staff who had been fit-tested (compared to 575 at the end of 2021). In 2022, the Agency
maintained and calibrated 32 fit-testing units to ensure they met requirements.
Preparedness, Partnerships, & Planning
APHIS’ National Preparedness and Incident Coordination Center (NPIC) develops animal health emergency
management guidelines to protect U.S. animal agriculture through collaborative, science- and risk-based strategies.
The guidelines are based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and National Response Framework.
The NPIC National Training and Exercise Program (NTEP), which addresses the national priorities of APHIS’
stakeholders, is dedicated to improving preparedness, mitigation, and response to animal disease emergencies
among all stakeholder groups. It creates dynamic, real-world learning scenarios to build response capabilities of
emergency responders and maintain the Agency’s response readiness. In 2022, APHIS, State cooperators, and
industry developed the Foreign Animal Disease Southern Agriculture Functional Exercise (FAD SAFE), a
functional exercise for 11 States, one territory, and one Native American tribe. FAD SAFE is designed to test State
agricultural agency response capabilities in the event of a multi-State Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak.
During the FAD SAFE, 1,481 players participated over the four-day exercise. In addition to FAD SAFE, the NTEP
relied on more than 200 volunteers working more than 5,000 support hours on 49 Animal Disease Events.
Volunteers completed seven virtual foreign animal disease diagnostician (FADD) drills for beef feedlots, cow-calf,
dairy, swine, goats, equine, and livestock markets. The NTEP also drafted the 2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI) Response Overarching After-Action Report and Improvement Plan and began developing a
tabletop exercise for the Secure Poultry Supply and a poultry FADD Drill. In addition, the NTEP offered six
webinars to help States prepare for the FAD SAFE exercise or help them develop an after-action report for their
HPAI response.
In 2022, APHIS continued to sustain its animal health readiness capacity by maintaining 5 Incident Management
Teams (IMT) with 28 volunteer first-responders per team (approximately 140 first-responders total). At any time,
one of these teams is on-call and ready to deploy anywhere to respond rapidly and effectively to animal health
disease events in support of incident management. These teams regularly experience personnel turnover reflecting a
normal cycling of volunteer positions. The IMT members participate in training and workshops on the Incident
Command System, animal disease, information technology, and technical training and workshops. Many of these
trainings and workshops are hosted by the NTEP.
APHIS provides subject matter expertise on pet owners and their pets, for breeders, dealers, and exhibitors regulated
by the Animal Welfare Act to enhance emergency response coordination. In 2022, the Zoo and All-Hazards
Partnership, a collaborative agreement with USDA and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, was able to reach
over 600 entities, including zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, sanctuaries, rehabilitation facilities, science centers,
professional associations, hobbyist groups, private owners, private veterinary practitioners, and State, Federal, and
local emergency management agencies. Activities conducted included webinars and other events covering topics
such as Impacts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on Zoos and Bio-Security and Resilience for Zoos and
Aquariums. APHIS also supported two additional efforts, including the National Summit on Animal Emergency
Management, which brought together governmental and non-governmental partners and subject matter experts to
address national animal emergency management capabilities. Additionally, the Agency collaborated with the
University of Kentucky to update best practices documents in animal emergency management, including animal
sheltering, animal evacuation and transportation, animal search and rescue, animal decontamination, veterinary
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medical response, community outreach and engagement, planning and resource management, and incident command
and coordination.
Response Efforts and Foreign Animal Disease Investigations
In 2022, FEMA mission assigned ESF #11 coordinators 9 times to support 6 incidents including wildfires,
hurricanes, severe storms/tornados, and flooding. APHIS dispatchers worked with Agency programs to create
announcements for emergency response activities and processed 2,170 resource requests for 48 agricultural and all-
hazards incidents. In addition, the Agency trained more than 100 employees, including IMT members, safety
officers, security coordinators, emergency coordinators, and VERRC members for various emergency response roles
and situations.
In 2022, APHIS conducted 3,515 FAD investigations, of which 1,464, or 42 percent, were vesicular disease
investigations. Vesicular diseases are viral diseases that affect various livestock animals, primarily swine and cattle.
The most prominent vesicular disease is FMD, which is the highest-consequence FAD in terms of regulatory
intervention and economic consequences. Several vesicular diseases exhibit similar clinical signs and can only be
differentiated through laboratory testing. In addition, 1,322 investigations, or 38 percent of the investigations, were
poultry investigations. This high number of poultry investigations is attributable to heightened concern due to the
2022 HPAI outbreak.
Safeguarding of Select Agents
APHIS and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) jointly administer the select agents and toxins regulations as the
Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP). Any individual or entity possessing, using, or transferring select agents or
toxins that affect plant, animal or human health must register with FSAP Facilities must meet biosafety
requirements, including employing measures to ensure the safety and security of select agents. APHIS and the CDC
inspect facilities that possess, use, or transfer select agents to ensure regulatory compliance. To eliminate potential
conflicts of interest, the CDC inspects USDA facilities, and APHIS inspects CDC facilities that possess select
agents. APHIS’ Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins (DASAT) ensures that registered facilities
promptly address non-compliances and take corrective actions. As of September 30, 2022, 36 entities were
registered with APHIS and 199 entities were registered with the CDC.
In 2022, FSAP conducted 191 inspections of which 122 were conducted by the CDC, 21 were conducted by APHIS,
and 48 were conducted jointly. The 69 inspections in which APHIS was involved consisted of 25 verification
inspections, 40 renewal inspections, 1 new entity inspection, 3 new space inspections, and no compliance
inspections. Of the 69 total inspections, 17 were remote, 30 were on-site, and 22 were hybrid (inspectors working
onsite and remotely) inspections. APHIS identified deficiencies during these inspections and notified the inspected
entities. The DASAT also conducted joint inspections with the CDC, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
and the Department of Defense. DASAT worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which conducts
Security Risk Assessments (SRA) for the program, to evaluate individuals requesting access to the select agents and
toxins. In 2021, FSAP facilitated 8,672 FBI SRAs, and based on the results, restricted the access of 21 individuals to
select agents . FSAP issued 201 final inspection reports in 2021, and 99 percent of them were issued within the
target timeline of 30 business days. Calendar year 2022 figures will be available in January 2023. In 2022, DASAT
supported entities during several hazardous events to ensure the safety and security of select agents and toxins. In
addition, DASAT continued to respond to an Office of Inspector General audit by providing responses to 6 of 11
audit recommendations. Also in 2022, FSAP continued to coordinate with representatives from APHIS and the
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) overseeing the stand-up of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in
Kansas to provide guidance on the select agent registration process. FSAP provided input into select agent
regulatory standards and the select agent program’s facility registration approval process. FSAP is also working with
DHS, OMB and National Security Council to publish the proposed rule, Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of
2002; Biennial Review and Republication of the Select Agent and Toxin List.
Modeling and Monitoring
APHIS uses epidemiologic and economic models to better understand historical events, estimate consequences, and
inform strategic, logistical, and budgetary decisions by evaluating varying interventions related to animal health. In
2022, the Agency continued to develop and/or update disease-spread and control models for African Swine Fever
(ASF), bluetongue virus (BTV), FMD, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and virulent Newcastle Disease. In
collaboration with the ARS, APHIS continued to develop modeling applications and disease-spread scenarios in the
InterSpread Plus model to explore the impact of alternative control strategies on the severity and duration of
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simulated, national-level ASF and FMD outbreaks. New developments in the ASF national model include the
addition of slaughter plant facilities, the addition of a boar stud production type to support a risk assessment, and the
creation of an instance of the national model that includes Puerto Rico. APHIS and ARS used these model scenarios
to inform planning for emergency response, and to evaluate the effectiveness of applying network-based controls
during simulated FMD outbreaks. In 2022 APHIS applied these models to guide decision-making and support
resource planning associated with ASF outbreaks in the Caribbean and HPAI outbreaks in North America.
SAFE TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Current Activities
APHIS monitors animal and plant health throughout the world and uses this information to set effective agricultural
import policies to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and plant pests and diseases. APHIS and the
Department of Homeland Security cooperate to enforce these policies at U.S. ports of entry. APHIS also develops
and conducts pre-clearance programs to ensure that foreign agricultural products destined for the United States do
not present a risk to U.S. agriculture. The Agency engages in cooperative programs to control pests of imminent
concern to the United States and to strengthen foreign plant protection and quarantine organizations. The Agency
also provides scientific and technical support in resolving sanitary (animal) and phytosanitary (plant) trade barriers.
APHIS negotiates animal and plant health certification requirements, assists U.S. exporters in meeting foreign
regulatory requirements, ensures requirements are proportional to risk without being excessively restrictive, and
provides any necessary technical information to support the safety of U.S. agricultural products destined for foreign
markets.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress in Facilitating Safe Trade:
1. Agriculture Import/Export
APHIS works with other Federal agencies, States, foreign governments, industry, and academia to protect U.S.
agriculture while facilitating the safe trade of animals and animal products. APHIS’ animal health experts ensure
that U.S. import requirements safeguard U.S. livestock health and negotiate requirements for the export of U.S.
animals and animal products worldwide. These requirements are based on compliance with international standards,
sound scientific principles, and fair-trading practices for animals and animal products. In addition, APHIS sets
quarantine, testing, and other requirements under which animals and animal products can be imported or exported.
These requirements help ensure that global markets can be accessed, expanded, or maintained with little or no risk to
U.S. animal production and human health. APHIS also outlines activities to support aquatic livestock imports and
exports through the development of the Aquaculture Business Plan and the 2021-2023 National Aquaculture Health
Plan and Standards.
APHIS conducts activities related to the 2008 Farm Bill amendments to the Lacey Act, which prohibit the
importation of any plants, with limited exceptions, that are taken or traded in violation of domestic or international
laws. The Act requires a declaration for imported shipments of most plants or plant products. A 2012 study by the
United Nations Environmental Programme estimated the value of illegal logging, including processing, to be
between $30 to $100 billion dollars, or 10 to 30 percent of the global wood trade. The Lacey Act amendments are
designed to help combat this illegal logging by encouraging importers to research their supply chains and be aware
of the laws governing products they purchase in other countries. APHIS’ role is to evaluate and implement existing
regulations, provide guidance to importers regarding the required declaration, perform compliance checks, provide
enforcement agencies with declaration information to assist their investigations, and maintain declaration records.
Imports
To facilitate imports, APHIS evaluates the animal health status of regions that wish to export animals and/or animal
products to the United States. This evaluation process minimizes the risk of introducing foreign animal diseases
through importation and is consistent with international trade requirements. In 2022, APHIS completed several
evaluations and published regulatory actions based on those evaluations in the Federal Register. These include
notices to recognize Bolivia and Ireland as negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). These
regulatory actions account for numerous downgrades of status for trade implemented due to various disease
outbreaks in other countries. To ensure countries have appropriate surveillance, prevention, and control measures in
place, APHIS conducts site visit around the world to minimize the likelihood of introducing foreign animal diseases
into the United States. APHIS resumed site visits in 2022 that were delayed or halted in the previous two years due
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to COVID-19 travel restrictions. These included Mexico for tuberculosis, Costa Rica for classical swine fever,
Colombia for foot and mouth disease, and Panama and Brazil for Newcastle disease.
APHIS continues to ensure that import regulations are effective and science-based, and to work with U.S. businesses
and importers to facilitate safe trade. For example, APHIS worked with States in 2022 to better understand State-
level disease control options and how they can support trade. The Agency implemented a customer-friendly
veterinary permitting assistant tool to support the new integration of electronic e-File program for all animal
permitting needs. Additionally, APHIS issued 22,256 import permits for live animals, animal products, organisms,
and vectors in 2022. These include new permits, renewals, and amendments.
Exports
To open, re-open, and maintain U.S. access to worldwide export markets, APHIS negotiates science-based
conditions with trading partners for various commodities that protect their country while also facilitating trade. In
2022, APHIS negotiated or re-negotiated 17 export protocols for animal products (7 new markets, 1 re-opened
markets, 5 expanded markets, and 4 retained markets). This includes retaining market access for poultry exports in
numerous countries that imposed restrictions due to outbreaks of avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
In 2022, APHIS opened, expanded, retained, or reopened 118 live animal export markets. To facilitate the export of
animals and animal products, APHIS coordinated the certification of 329,344 health documents and 2,663 facility
approvals. APHIS also assisted export markets by participating in industry stakeholder meetings on obtaining new
market access, provided technical support to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for World Trade
Organization (WTO) cases, coordinated, or supported audits with trade partners with whom we have requested new
market access, and engaged in bilateral trade meetings with Taiwan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the
European Union. In addition, APHIS developed information packages and questionnaire responses from various
countries to maintain, expand, or open export markets as well as to release held shipments.
APHIS continued to increase the number of live animal health export certificates issued electronically this year by
expanding the system capabilities for the Agency’s online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS).
VEHCS capabilities include digital signature, multiple user roles, a certificate upload feature, certificate re-issuance,
inclusion of supporting documents and payment information, and is working to expand the number of countries and
commodities for which electronic certification is available. APHIS issued a notice to the WTO in 2020 indicating
the acceptance of electronic USDA Accredited Veterinarian signature for the issuance of all live animal export
health certificates submitted to APHIS for endorsement. APHIS’ digital endorsement for live animal export
certificates is currently accepted by 39 countries.
Lacey Act
In 2022, APHIS received approximately 1.2 million Lacey Act declarations electronically or on paper (the vast
majority were received electronically through the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border
Protection’s (CBP) Automated Cargo Environment (ACE) system). Since implementing the 2008 amendments to
the Lacey Act, APHIS has added products to the declaration requirement/enforcement schedule in phases. On
October 1, 2021, APHIS implemented phase six, which expanded the Lacey Act declaration requirement to items
such as new wooden pallets and containers, essential oils, and certain musical instruments made of wood, among
other items. APHIS originally announced phase 6 in the Federal Register on March 2020, with an effective data of
October 1, 2020, but delayed the implementation date by a year to allow pallet producers and essential oil importers
time to adjust practices as needed to be able to meet the Lacey Act requirements in response to concerns raised by
industry representatives. Based on these concerns, APHIS is proactively beginning outreach for the next
implementation phase (phase 7), which will cover all remaining non-composite wood products for which
declarations are not already required. Due to the complexity involved in the production of composite products and
the likelihood of additional rulemaking for declaration requirements, they will be addressed in phase 8, which
APHIS anticipates will be the final implementation phase. APHIS began informal outreach to stakeholders as well
as site visits to understand the details of composite product construction, in order to understand the difficulties for
the industry in meeting current declaration requirements. In 2022, APHIS developed a tool to designate Lacey Act
noncompliance risk scores for over 800 commodities that are imported into the United States. This tool will help
inform compliance efforts by allowing the program to focus on high-volume, high-risk commodities. In 2022,
APHIS issued more than 200 letters of noncompliance for importers whose declarations contain errors. This non-
punitive outreach tool informs filers that there are likely errors in their declaration, that corrections should be made
in future filings, that enforcement action could be taken on future filings, and provides contact information for
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questions or concerns. APHIS and its Federal partners (including other USDA agencies, CBP, U.S. Department of
Justice, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) continued to expand and improve Lacey Act compliance programs
by developing plans for and conducting documentation reviews of importers, continuing development of wood
identification technologies, and considering alternatives to seizing and forfeiting shipments due to the time and cost
involved.
In 2020, APHIS received supplemental funding under the United States-Canada-Mexico trade agreement to carry
out enforcement of the Lacey Act Amendments related to trade in plant and plant products between the United
States and Mexico. In 2022, APHIS procured software that will enable the Lacey Act program to conduct in-depth
analysis of Lacey Act declaration data and integrate it with other data sets, such as CBP data on imports and lists of
threatened plant species, among others. This capability will allow APHIS to identify non-compliant importers,
identify suspicious documentation, and conduct risk-based analyses of declaration data. APHIS will focus analyses
on species of concern in Mexico or that may be transshipped through Mexico. Additionally, APHIS provided
funding to USDA’s Forest Service through an interagency agreement to identify tree species that are protected in the
wild but also grown commercially on farms to help inform analysis and compliance efforts. Protected trees are
sometimes listed on Lacey Act declaration forms. Trading of these species is often illegal if harvested from natural
habitats, but legal when cut from planted forests. Information on planted forests is sparsely available. The goal of the
project is to collect, and map planted forest data focusing on South American species that could be routed into or
through Mexico. The outcome will be an updated spatial database of planted trees that will assist APHIS in Lacey
Act enforcement related to the USMCA. It will also provide data for the Arbor Harbor development group working
on wood identification projects and other partners involved in Lacey Act enforcement, including the U.S.
Department of Justice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as and non-governmental organizations involved
in forest conservation.
2. Overseas Technical & Trade Operations
Through the Overseas Technical and Trade Operations (OTTO) program, APHIS facilitates market access for U.S.
farmers and ranchers to export their products to other countries by addressing animal and plant health-related issues
that impede or prevent trade of U.S. agricultural products. APHIS uses its technical expertise to develop science-
based: (1) Agreements with other countries to promote U.S. exports and (2) Internationally recognized scientific
standards and guidelines for animal and plant health regulations to help ensure implementation of uniform sanitary
and phytosanitary (SPS) trade regulations globally. To accomplish these goals, the Agency collaborates with
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and other Federal
technical agencies to ensure a coordinated effort on trade-related issues and provide direct benefits to U.S.
producers. These efforts facilitated the export of U.S. agricultural products, which totaled $177 billion in calendar
year 2021, an increase of 18 percent over the previous year (FAS’ 2021 United States Agricultural Export
Yearbook).
APHIS uses its strong scientific base and team of technical experts located in the United States and abroad to
advocate on behalf of U.S. agriculture and successfully resolve SPS trade barriers. APHIS technical experts build
strong working relationships with host-country counterparts and use their scientific knowledge to address
counterpart concerns, confirm that U.S. commodities are safe to import and remove trade barriers for American
agricultural exports. These conversations take place via ongoing discussions, technical bilateral meetings, and
multilateral fora. APHIS has scientists, including veterinarians, entomologists, botanists, and plant pathologists,
stationed throughout the world in more than 30 countries who collaborate with their foreign counterparts on animal
and plant health issues to support U.S. exports and the establishment of science-based international animal and plant
health standards that facilitate trade and reduce animal and plant health-related risks.
Examples of APHIS’ 2022 successes in creating new market access include: bovine meat and bone meal to Peru
worth an estimated $5 million per year; live sheep and goats to Senegal worth an estimated $800,000; bovine, ovine,
and caprine genetics to Tunisia with an initial estimated value of $500,000; porcine semen to Malaysia worth an
estimated $1 million; wheat to Fiji worth an estimated $3 million; and blackberry plants to Colombia worth an
estimated $1-2 million per year. APHIS also works to expand U.S. producers’ access to export markets and to retain
markets that are threatened due to changing requirements in other countries or pest and disease outbreaks in the
United States. APHIS worked with the Philippines to reaffirm highly pathogenic avian influenza related criteria for
shipment of U.S. poultry and poultry products, retaining a market worth $138 million in calendar year 2021.
Likewise, APHIS worked with Brazil to retain access for U.S. eggs that originated from counties without avian
influenza detections in 2022, retaining a market that was worth $26 million in calendar year 2021. Showing the
success of APHIS’ efforts over the last several years to implement agreements regarding regionalization for animal
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disease emergencies, many trading partners did not impose restrictions on U.S. poultry products from counties that
did not experience avian influenza outbreaks in 2022. Additionally, APHIS proactively established an African swine
fever (ASF) protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Major export markets for U.S. pork like the
Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore have now officially recognized this ASF protection zone and
will not suspend trade from the mainland United States if ASF is detected in either Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin
Islands. APHIS continued working on a longstanding issue—U.S. potatoes to Mexico—and reached an agreement
with its counterparts in Mexico in 2022 to expand access to the market for U.S. producers. Exports of potatoes grew
35 percent from January to August 2022 compared to that same period in 2021. Total exports of U.S. potatoes to
Mexico were worth $60 million in 2021.
APHIS must continually address SPS issues to ensure continued smooth trade for U.S. exporters even for markets
that are open to U.S. agricultural products. APHIS works with foreign counterparts to clarify or streamline
certification requirements, making it easier and less costly for U.S. exporters to move their products overseas. When
shipments are delayed at foreign ports, APHIS negotiates the overseas process to get products released and moving
again. APHIS successfully secured the release of 261 shipments worth more than $94 million in 2022. Examples of
these detained shipments that were released through our interventions on the ground included a shipment of
soybeans to Egypt worth $3 million, breeding horses to Chile worth more than $10 million, and frozen poultry
products to China worth $5 million.
Building relationships in emerging markets often involves field visits, or training of foreign government officials to
build their capacity to put in place scientifically sound SPS requirements. Through May 2022, in-person visits and
trainings continued to be impacted by travel restrictions related to COVID-19. APHIS resumed in-person visits after
that time. During the fiscal year, APHIS’ Representation, Foreign Visitors and Protocol Office hosted 5 virtual
connections related to agricultural trade and U.S. regulatory processes, which were attended by 107 foreign officials
from Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines. The Office also hosted three in-person meetings attended by 29
participants from Taiwan, Japan, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. APHIS fulfilled 23 requests for subject matter
experts, primarily for trainings and webinars. These efforts reached 235 participants from 41 countries in Africa,
Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Through cooperative agreements with Texas A&M University, Kansas State
University, University of Delaware, and Tuskegee University, APHIS delivered technical seminars, discussions, and
workshops to 124 animal and plant health officials representing 38 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin
America. These activities focused on high containment techniques for laboratories, poultry diseases, and SPS
standards and risk analysis. These opportunities help other countries improve their regulatory capacity and prevent
the spread of serious animal diseases and plant pests that could jeopardize the safe trade of agricultural products and
importation into the United States.
APHIS emphasizes use of scientific principles as a basis for international trade decisions to help ensure the same
rules apply to countries around the world and foster a safe, successful trading environment. To achieve this level
playing field and ensure pest and disease mitigation, APHIS works with international standard-setting bodies such as
the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), formerly abbreviated as OIE, and the International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC) to develop SPS standards and guidelines for trade and encourages other countries to
adopt these internationally recognized and science-based regulatory guidelines. APHIS increases U.S. agricultural
exports by advocating for science-based international standards acceptable to the United States, and then using those
standards when negotiating for market access for U.S. products. This safeguards domestic production from foreign
diseases and pests, while promoting safe trade of U.S. agricultural commodities. In 2022, APHIS participated in the
effort by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (the IPPC’s governing board) to adopt 11 international
standards and a recommendation to help harmonize pest prevention measures for reducing contaminating pests in
regulated articles and unregulated goods. Additionally, APHIS is participating in key IPPC committees, including
those focused on strategic planning for the organization and a task force focused on preventing pests and disease in
sea containers. In the animal health arena, WOAH adopted 70 international standards in 2022 in areas such as
disease surveillance and notification, disease diagnostics and control.
APHIS continued its comprehensive succession planning efforts, with special emphasis on developing the Foreign
Service cadre and implementing an annual overseas rightsizing effort. The recruitment, assessment, and
developmental process emphasized applicants’ animal and plant health science backgrounds while also increasing
new officers’ knowledge of all APHIS mission areas, USDA partners such as FAS, and understanding of U.S.
embassy protocols. The training program further develops Foreign Service trainees’ (FSTs) diplomatic, cross-
cultural, and leadership skills. Through this succession effort, APHIS is augmenting its current overseas Foreign
Service cadre, many of whom are eligible for retirement in the next 5 to 10 years. The succession effort helps ensure
that APHIS has trained staff to support U.S. exports and overseas animal and plant health programs. As a result of
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this program, APHIS has deployed four new Foreign Service personnel in the past year to Brazil, China, India, and
Peru. APHIS will be deploying new Foreign Service personnel in 2023 as a part of the 2022 foreign service trainee
class. These 15 foreign service personnel will be deployed to Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Japan,
Mexico, Panama, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. APHIS has also established a Fellowship
Program to bring students with advanced degrees into the Foreign Service. The current class includes five students
who will graduate in Spring of 2023 and 2024. Upon graduation, they will be completing the foreign service trainee
program and will be deployed to their overseas assignments. In addition, APHIS has established a workforce
planning process to evaluate resource allocation overseas, assess which locations are optimal, and determine the
necessary staffing required to support the Agency’s mission, strengthening APHIS’ ability to address SPS and other
issues overseas in traditional and emerging markets. Through this process, APHIS identified east Africa as an area
of focus and is adding a locally employed staff member in Kenya in 2023.
Agricultural trade is essential for the U.S. export market and may be subject to costly disruptions from animal and
plant health barriers. APHIS’ technical trade, capacity building, and regulatory activities support export
opportunities for U.S. producers while providing fruit, vegetables, and animal protein sources to international
markets. The Agency will continue to cultivate international trade opportunities for America’s animal and plant
products while safeguarding U.S. agriculture from pests and diseases.
ANIMAL WELFARE
Current Activities
The Agency ensures the humane care and treatment of certain animals and horses as required by the Animal Welfare
Act of 1966 as amended (7 U.S.C. 2131-2159), and the Horse Protection Act (HPA) of 1970 as amended (15 U.S.C.
1821-1831) through inspection, education, and enforcement efforts. Animal welfare activities include inspection of
certain establishments that handle animals intended for research, exhibition, wholesale pet trade, or transported in
commerce. During these inspections, APHIS reviews the animals, premises, facilities, husbandry practices,
programs of veterinary care, records, and animal handling procedures. APHIS also administers the HPA, as
amended, which prohibits the showing, sale, auction, exhibition, or transport of sore horses. Program personnel
evaluate the performance of industry-licensed inspectors and conduct unannounced inspections at horse shows,
exhibitions, sales, and auctions.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress in Animal Welfare:
1. Animal Welfare
APHIS’ Animal Welfare Program has the unique Federal role of ensuring the humane care and treatment of animals
covered by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) through inspection, learning opportunities, and enforcement efforts.
More than fifty years ago, in 1966, the AWA was signed into law. Since that time, APHIS, acting through the
Animal Care Program and its predecessors, has protected millions of regulated animals used in research, exhibition,
and the pet trade as well as those transported in commerce. In 2022, the program oversaw 13,376 licensees and
registrants, including the addition of approximately 2,500 new registrants as part of online pet transportation
services.
Licensing Activities
The AWA requires all facilities that use animals regulated under the Act to obtain a license or registration with
APHIS. Prior to issuing a license, APHIS works closely with potential applicants to ensure they understand the
requirements of the AWA regulations and standards and demonstrate compliance with them. The Agency develops
customized materials and presentations to focus on specific aspects at each facility, and, by regulation, allows
facilities up to three inspections to demonstrate compliance prior to issuing a license. In 2022, APHIS conducted
2,604 pre-licensing inspections, licensing 778 new customers and re-licensing 1,458 customers under the new 3-year
licensing rule. The Agency determines initial compliance by conducting unannounced inspections within three
months of issuing the license. At the first unannounced inspection, 95 percent of these newly licensed facilities were
in substantial compliance, with no critical AWA citations on the inspection report.
For licensed and registered facilities, APHIS inspectors perform primarily unannounced inspections to assess
compliance with the AWA. During inspections, Agency officials examine and inspect all areas of animal care and
treatment covered under the AWA. The Agency reviews the animals, premises, facilities, husbandry practices,
program of veterinary care, records, and animal handling procedures. In 2022, APHIS conducted 10,595 inspections
and found 90 percent of all facilities to be in substantial compliance with the AWA. Inspection activities continued
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to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several regulated species are susceptible to COVID-19 transmission
from humans and therefore the Agency took appropriate measures to safeguard employees and animals.
Permitting Activities
In August 2014, APHIS amended the AWA to require that dogs imported into the United States for resale are
healthy, vaccinated, and are over six months of age, with limited exceptions. Since November 2014, importers, prior
to import, are required to demonstrate proof of age, vaccination, and health of dogs imported for resale. In 2022,
APHIS issued 2,192 permits covering 8,114 dogs entering the United States. In 2022, the Agency increased
communications with stakeholders to improve understanding of the requirements for importation of live dogs, and
time required for permit processing and issuance.
The Agency continues to collaborate with U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) to address suspected
incidents of importing underaged dogs and the illegal entry of dogs into the United States. The Agency has
implemented enforcement procedures for importers who violate the AWA, as well as created procedures to refer
problematic importers for investigation. These efforts have further facilitated the safe and timely entry of dogs into
the United States, while making an impact on monitoring illegal live dog importation and holding those importers
who do not follow the AWA accountable.
Registered Research Facilities Activities
Of the 13,376 regulated entities, nearly 1,000 are comprised of research facilities (RFs) registered under the AWA.
APHIS collaborates with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
help oversee the welfare of animals used in research. While each Agency has distinct authorities and areas of
responsibility, we work together to ensure laboratory animals receive the level of care required under Federal
regulations. All three Agencies require research facilities to have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
(IACUC). This oversight body is empowered to conduct facility inspections, investigate complaints of inhumane
animal care, and approve or suspend animal research activity.
In addition to conducting more than 1,248 unannounced inspections of research facilities in 2022, all USDA-
registered research facilities and Federal research facilities are required to submit an Annual Report that documents
its use of animals for research, testing, teaching, and experimentation. The reports identify the number of animals
used or held for all such activities. In 2022, APHIS processed 799 annual reports, of which more than 70 percent
were submitted online. Online reporting has increased annually since launching the online portal in 2020.
Since 2016, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has voluntarily registered its animal research facilities
with APHIS to promote animal welfare and establish the fully functioning IACUC. APHIS has registered 39 ARS
research facilities under the AWA. APHIS monitors the health and welfare of animals housed at ARS facilities using
our unannounced inspection process. In 2022, APHIS conducted 59 inspections at all ARS facility sites. Of those
inspected in 2022, all but 2 facilities were found in compliance during the unannounced inspection process.
Enforcement Activities
When APHIS inspectors discover conditions or records that are noncompliant with the regulations, the Agency may
establish a deadline for corrective action and increase the frequency of unannounced inspections to determine
whether the facility made the necessary modifications. Continued, serious noncompliance may warrant an
investigation that can result in sanctions ranging from monetary penalties to suspension or revocation of the
facility’s license, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
To support animal welfare, the Agency initiated 262 cases for alleged violations of the AWA, issued 204 official
warnings, issued 18 pre-litigation settlements resulting in the collection of $176,245 in stipulated penalties, obtained
17 administrative orders resulting in the assessment of $133,000 in civil penalties, and suspended or revoked 7
licenses. In one case, APHIS negotiated a pre-litigation settlement agreement in the amount of $25,650 to resolved
alleged violations of the AWA standards including the failure to protect and prevent discomfort to animals kept
outdoors by providing natural or artificial shelter appropriate to the local climatic conditions. In another case,
working with the Office of the General Counsel, APHIS obtained a Default Decision revoking the respondent’s
AWA license and assessing a civil penalty of $53,600 for multiple violations of the AWA.
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Regulatory Changes
The 21st Century Cures Act directs several Federal agencies to reduce administrative burden on investigators while
maintaining the integrity and credibility of research findings and the protection of research animals. On November
24, 2021, APHIS published a final rule that reduces duplicative requirements and administrative burden on more
than 1,000 AWA registered biomedical facilities, while maintaining scientific integrity and humane animal care. The
Agency considered input obtained from the proposed rule published in September 2020 while developing a final
rule.
On December 3, 2021, APHIS published a final rule that lifted a stay and made minor changes to the contingency
plan regulations. The previous rule, which was published in December 2012 and immediately placed in stay,
requires licensed and registered facilities to maintain contingency plans for the handling of animals during
emergencies and training of personnel. In 2021, APHIS conducted additional review to further consider the impact
of contingency plan requirements on regulated entities, in addition to evaluating the impact of regulatory changes
that occurred since 2012, such as the de minimus exemption. The lifting of the stay and the revisions better ensure
that entities responsible for animals regulated under the AWA are prepared to safeguard the health and welfare of
such animals in the event of possible emergencies or disasters.
The AWA authorizes the regulation of birds not bred for use in research. In fall 2020, APHIS held a series of virtual
listening sessions to gather information to assist in the development of regulations that will ensure the humane care
and treatment of birds, consistent with the AWA. The Agency has since considered public input from stakeholders
and published a proposed rule on February 22, 2022, that would implement appropriate regulations and standards for
birds covered under the Act. APHIS received over 19,100 comments, which were utilized to inform the development
of a final rule, which is on schedule to be published by the court-ordered deadline of February 22, 2023.
APHIS has drafted an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that would signal to licensees and registrants, the
public, and other stakeholders the Agency’s intention to pursue amendments to regulations and standards for
animals covered under the AWA in three areas: public handling of dangerous animals at licensed exhibitors, training
of personnel who handle dangerous animals in these settings, and environmental enrichment to promote the
psychological well-being of all species covered under the AWA. APHIS took into consideration: concerns raised by
members of the public and animal advocacy groups, a recent Office of Inspector General audit report on licensed
exhibitors, non-compliances identified during inspections, inspector surveys of facilities with human-animal
interactions, Agency data on complaints, recently litigated cases, and review of relevant literature. Comments
received will be used to inform development of a proposed rule to be published in 2023.
2. Horse Protection
Since 1970, APHIS has enforced the Horse Protection Act (HPA), a Federal law aimed at ending the cruel and
inhumane practice of soring and preventing unfair competition by making it unlawful to show, sell, or transport sore
horses. Soring is a practice in which people apply caustic chemicals and/or mechanical devices to a horse’s pasterns,
which cause the horse to experience pain or distress while walking or moving. This practice is used primarily in
training Tennessee Walking Horses, racking horses and related breeds to produce a high stepping gait, which is
prized at some competitive horse shows and other events. USDA conducts oversight of the program through
evaluation of the performance of industry-licensed inspectors and conducting unannounced inspections at horse
shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.
Inspection Activities
Under the HPA, the management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions are responsible for ensuring that
sored horses do not unfairly compete alongside horses that are not sore. If a horse is found to be sore, management
has the responsibility of disqualifying them from participating in HPA-covered events. Management may use third-
party inspectors that USDA-certified horse industry organizations (HIOs) train and license to inspect horses for
compliance with the HPA. These third-party inspectors are known as Designated Qualified Persons (DQPs).
APHIS attends a select number of HPA-covered events each year to observe DQP performance and inspect horses
for HPA compliance. In 2022, horse show attendance by the agency and related inspections increased back to
similar levels from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, APHIS attended 41 horse events, inspected 1,300
horses, and identified 323 instances of suspected noncompliance with the HPA. The DQPs attended 214 HPA events
and inspected 47,744 horse entries. In total, DQPs identified 635 HPA non-compliances, and management
disqualified 587 entries.
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Both APHIS and HIOs conducted sampling of horses to determine any use of prohibited substances. Together, the
agency and horse industry sampled 1,578 horses for prohibited substance testing and found that nearly half the
samples tested were positive for prohibited numbing agents. APHIS continued to monitor for prohibited objects
through digital radiograph imaging, implemented use of iris scan technology and pursued ultrasound technology and
on-site testing for prohibited substances.
APHIS also provided training to Agency inspectors and DQPs to promote consistency in compliance inspections,
increasing direct communication with management to ensure they receive updates on USDA’s HPA Disqualification
List. APHIS provided full inspection report data, including noncompliant items identified by type and number of
horses management disqualified from participating in HPA-covered events, on the APHIS website:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/SA_HPA
Enforcement Activities
In regard to enforcement actions, APHIS worked with OGC to obtain an administrative order disqualifying one
person from participating in activities regulated under the Horse Protection Act for a period of 8 months.
In addition, APHRE initiated nine new cases for alleged violations of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). These 9 new
cases have been referred to OGC for administrative action. Civil penalties and fines related to these cases are still
pending at this time.
Regulatory Changes
In 2022, APHIS began drafting a proposed rule to address additional information provided by an audit conducted by
the Office of Inspector General, as well as a review provided by the National Academy of Sciences. The proposed
rule would make substantive changes to strengthen current regulations, including eliminating the role of DQPs as
3rd-party inspectors and assign inspection authority solely to qualified APHIS officials and employees. It would also
remove all regulatory requirements for HIOs that operate shows and employ the DQPs. The Agency anticipates
publication of the proposed rule in fall 2022. Comments received will be used to inform a final rule to be published
in 2023.
AGENCY MANAGEMENT
Current Activities
The Agency Management programs support the daily operations of APHIS and provide for a safe and secure work
environment. These programs provide the information technology, space, and telecommunications infrastructure that
gives Agency employees the tools they need to carry out their responsibilities. These programs also oversee and
implement precautionary security measures for continued mission operations while ensuring the safety of APHIS
people and facilities. In addition, these programs support APHIS’ contribution to the U.S. Department of State’s
continuing implementation of the Capital Security Cost Sharing Program, which provides safe and secure
workplaces for all U.S. government employees located overseas.
Selected Examples of Recent Progress in Agency Management:
1. APHIS Information Technology and Infrastructure
APHIS’ Information Technology Infrastructure (AITI) is comprised of the hardware, software, cloud computing and
cyber-security infrastructure that provides Agency employees with office automation tools, Internet access, and
access to mission-critical information technology (IT) programs and administrative applications. APHIS maintains,
enhances, and operates the IT infrastructure to support Agency business, conduct research and analysis, carry out
administrative processes, record program activities, and deliver program services. AITI objectives and priorities are
to continually improve sharing of information across the Agency; integrity and accessibility of information,
processes, and resources available to assist programs in emergencies; and APHIS’ cyber-security. APHIS uses AITI
funding to maintain annual software license and hardware agreements, cloud services, and for regular life-cycle
replacement of enterprise hardware.
The 2022 accomplishments listed below support these objectives.
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License Renewal
APHIS supported approximately 9,700 users including contractors with license renewals so they can access and
legally use the enterprise software in conducting business.
Availability
APHIS supported internal and external stakeholders by providing optimal levels of service. The Agency continued
to maintain 99.97 percent availability for its key computing systems in 2022. The AITI program also maintained
applications availability outside of the normal operational hours, on weekends, and holidays to ensure availability of
systems.
Cloud Services
As a requirement of the Federal government’s Data Center Optimization Initiative, APHIS has completed migration
of all business applications from on-site data centers to the remote cloud servers. To date, APHIS remains in phase
three of its cloud migration plan. This phase focuses on further program data consolidation and enabling the ongoing
development of cloud applications for new program mission needs and modernization efforts. The Agency planned
to complete the consolidation phase of the plan in 2022, however internal migration interruption delays has pushed
completion into 2023.
APHIS employees continued utilizing the ability to telework with limited access to physical office sites in 2022. As
a result, cloud services have allowed the Agency to continue monitoring and accessing business applications
remotely as well as offer seamless IT support.
Cyber-Security
APHIS maintained the current version of National Institute of Standards and Technology and Federal Information
Security Management Act testing standards to continue protecting our cyber security infrastructure and reduce
system vulnerabilities. APHIS also introduced an Agency led intrusion prevention security system called
Checkpoint, further increasing security protection. In 2022, this security system continued its success in providing
technological threat insight, allowing the Agency to detect and block thousands of attempts of unauthorized access,
daily, to APHIS systems at a faster and more accurate rate.
Security Monitoring
The Agency annually renews licensing for the upgraded security monitoring system that tracks improper use of
personally identifiable information data stored in the APHIS infrastructure. This action helps protect confidential
information that could potentially identify a specific individual such as citizenship, legal status, gender, race and/or
ethnicity. Renewing this software enable the Agency to identify vulnerabilities in APHIS forms that contain bank
account, credit card, driver license, passport, social security, and telephone numbers as well as date of birth details.
The Agency’s security branch continued to work with the human resources division to mitigate the identified
vulnerabilities.
2. Physical Operational Security
APHIS oversees and implements precautionary measures to ensure continued, efficient mission operations, and
protection from disruption, degradation, or destruction of its facilities through the Physical and Operational Security
(POS) program.
The POS program, as a newly realigned portion of the Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Services (ERCS),
has the continued responsibility for the oversight of safety programs, physical security, and Agency-wide readiness
in response to agricultural and all-hazard emergencies. The program uses a government-wide approach to
agricultural health issues affecting the Nation through preparedness, personnel security, and an array of safety
initiatives. This includes providing year-round security measures, such as physical security upgrades, alarms,
badging and identification systems, guard services, security assessments, safety and risk assessments, workplace
violence training, and investigations of both internal and external threats. These measures protect APHIS employees,
visitors, and stakeholders from harm, acts of terrorism, and violence. In addition, this program supports part of the
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USDA’s contribution to the U.S. Department of State’s continuing implementation of the Capital Security Cost
Sharing program, which provides safe and secure workplaces for all government employees located overseas.
The POS program provides numerous security trainings to Agency employees. In 2022, the program provided
training to more than 741 employees, including seminars relating to active shooter response, situational awareness,
de-escalation, and travel safety. The program also provided multiple security briefings for employees who work
along the U.S.-Mexico border or in foreign countries.
APHIS investigates, educates, assesses, and mitigates internal and external security threats directed at agency
facilities, programs, and personnel. For example, APHIS focuses on employee security at or near the Mexican
border, investigating threats and responding to requests for protection for APHIS employees who enforce
regulations in this challenging environment. In 2022, APHIS investigated 51 external threats
to its employees and 43
workplace violence incidents.
The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) and Interagency Security Committee (ISC) directives
create the standard for secure and reliable forms of identification for facility and network access and compliance
regarding physical security at Federal facilities. In 2022, the POS program completed physical security assessments
at 15 facilities using the updated ISC criteria and USDA reporting format. As a result, the POS program provided
security upgrades and repairs to these facilities and an additional 18 facilities. In addition, the POS program is
responsible for issuing, activating, or updating personal identification verification cards for APHIS and other
Federal personnel and served 12,637 Federal employees in 2022.
APHIS security specialists investigate threats and respond to requests for protection throughout the country for
APHIS veterinarians and inspectors who are enforcing regulations in challenging environments. In support of safety
precautions for APHIS employees who enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA),
the POS program provided security during 29 inspections of regulated AWA entities, and 69 HPA events.
The program also works with other USDA agencies, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, the U.S. Department of State, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the appropriate
organization takes the lead, contributes to program costs, and integrates security where employees are co-located
overseas. APHIS maintains a presence overseas to facilitate agricultural trade and monitor pest and disease threats.
The Security Embassy Construction Counterterrorism Act’s Capital Security Cost Sharing Program requires the
Agency to help fund the construction of new Embassy compounds based on the number of authorized positions. The
POS program worked with the U.S. Department of State to establish a security baseline for APHIS facilities
overseas. In 2022, APHIS had approximately 300 full-time employees based in countries around the world. This
program provides safe and secure diplomatic facilities for the Agency’s overseas personnel.
3. Rental and Department of Homeland Security Payments
This account supports the Agency’s costs associated with General Services Administration (GSA) leased facilities
and funds approximately 220 locations associated with GSA leases and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
payments. The funding allows APHIS programs to continue carrying out activities that safeguard the health and
value of U.S. agriculture and natural resources, including surveillance for animal and plant pests and diseases, pest
and disease eradication programs, diagnostic and methods development work at laboratories, animal welfare
inspections, and wildlife damage management activities, without diverting fiscal resources from operations to cover
these costs. APHIS continues efforts to reduce and consolidate its office space. In 2022, APHIS reduced space by
10,813 rentable square feet (RSF), on top of a reduction of 30,411 RSF in 2021. This equates to a 1.2 percent
reduction in space over the past two fiscal years.
This account also funds the DHS/Federal Protective Service (FPS) basic and building specific security costs. In
2020, DHS/FPS began implementing their modified security billing process that was fully implemented by the end
of 2022. The current process uses the previous 5-years of actual security costs to derive an average basic security
assessment billed to the agencies annually. These basic security costs, which include activities such as law
enforcement, security alarm monitoring and dispatch, are projected to increase by 34 percent in 2023, and decrease
by six percent in 2024. In addition to the basic security costs, agencies are billed security costs for building specific
services required to implement and maintain security requirements in accordance with standards set by the
Interagency Security Committee, including contract guards and security equipment. Final costs for 2023 and 2024
for these specific security costs are not yet finalized, however, DHS/FSP has indicated that APHIS should anticipate
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an estimated 34 percent rate increase from current year pricing for these services. The increase is due to inflationary
increases in costs for labor, supplies, and material.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Selected Examples of Recent Progress in Programs Funded by General Provisions
1. Cogongrass
Cogongrass is an invasive perennial weed that is a prolific seed producer and forms an extensive rhizome network.
The primarily wind-dispersed seeds spread easily along rights-of-way and in other disturbed areas encouraging
population expansion. Cogongrass readily invades pine plantations and is believed to create chemical interference
that decreases pine production. Moreover, cogongrass is difficult to control because the rhizomes are drought, fire,
and herbicide tolerant. APHIS estimates that this species has the potential to spread across 82 percent of the United
States. In 2022, APHIS provided $2.983 million to Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina to support
survey, outreach, and control activities related to cogongrass infestations in these States.
ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY TRANSFERS FROM COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION
Selected Examples of Recent Progress in Transfers from Commodity Credit Corporation:
1. African Swine Fever
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. There is no
treatment or vaccine available. Currently, the only way to stop it is to depopulate all affected or exposed swine
herds. Early detection is the key to controlling, containing, and eliminating ASF. While ASF has never been found
in the United States and does not threaten public health, an introduction would devastate U.S. pork producers, their
communities, and the economy, as well as the security of the pork supply. According to a 2019 Iowa State
University study, an outbreak in the United States could cost the swine industry $14 billion over a two-year period
and as much as $50 billion over 10 years.
Protecting the health of domestic livestock herds to ensure profitability and supporting trade is a high priority for the
Department. USDA confirmed ASF in the Dominican Republic (DR) in July 2021 and in Haiti in September 2021.
APHIS received $500 million in emergency funds at the end of 2021 to assist with the response to these detections,
establish a protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and take actions to prevent the introduction of
the disease in the United States. Assisting with an eradication program in the DR and Haiti while simultaneously
bolstering domestic efforts will provide the best protection against further ASF spread in the region.
Domestic Prevention Efforts
APHIS has numerous interlocking safeguards in place to prevent ASF from entering the United States and has been
working closely with States and industry to develop and refine plans in case of an outbreak. These safeguards
include a surveillance program to rapidly detect ASF and serve as an early warning system; increased testing
capabilities through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network to handle large volumes of samples; enhanced
work with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports of entry
targeting cargo, passengers and products from ASF-affected countries; increased detector dog teams to sniff out
illegal products at key U.S. commercial sea and airports; and added import restrictions on pork and pork products
from ASF-affected countries. APHIS’ focus on domestic preparedness emphasizes surveillance and diagnostics,
traceability, garbage feeding controls, depopulation tools and methods, and enhancing pre-clearance and arrival
inspections. These priorities were identified through direct discussions with the industry and States and in close
collaboration with the National Pork Producers Council. APHIS also continued to conduct antigen- and antibody-
based surveillance for ASF in feral swine in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. In 2022, the Agency tested
more than 1,350 samples for ASF. These States are considered the highest risk for an ASF introduction due to the
frequent movement of people and cargo, as well as known feral swine in the State.
APHIS continued to enforce an ASF protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands under the World
Organization for Animal Health in 2022. This Protection Zone, along with existing comprehensive import
restrictions and safeguards, strengthen the Agency’s ability to protect the U.S. swine herd while avoiding trade
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restrictions. APHIS conducts an ongoing pre-departure inspection program in Puerto Rico to prevent pests and
diseases from entering the continental United States in passenger baggage and cargo and works with CBP to conduct
similar inspections in the U.S. Virgin Islands. To support the ASF protection zone in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands, APHIS enhanced pre-departure activities by adding temporary staff, canine detector teams, and x-ray
machines, as well as conducting training for staff in inspecting for animal products (as the main focus in Puerto Rico
had previously been plant pests and diseases). The Agency also increased ongoing Smuggling Interdiction and Trade
Compliance (SITC) market surveys in the protection zone to identify potential regulated or prohibited product and
ensure its removal from the marketplace. SITC also conducts trade verification activities at express courier locations
in the continental United States as a backstop to inspection activities in the protection zone. Additionally, APHIS
conducts outreach activities throughout the protection zone to ensure awareness of the movement restrictions on
pork and pork products. When inspectors find prohibited pork products, they dispose of them in accordance with
approved safeguarding practices. Since the establishment of the protection zone, APHIS has intercepted and
destroyed approximately 1,000 pounds of pork and pork products in the zone--products that otherwise would have
reached the U.S. mainland, threatening swine production in the Continental United States. In addition, APHIS staff
removed over 2,500 feral swine in Puerto Rico continued to opportunistically sample and test for possible ASF
introductions.
International Efforts
In 2022, APHIS assisted the DR and Haiti in their eradication and response efforts, including providing advice and
assistance on surveillance, quarantine, depopulation, and disposal methods; providing testing support; and bolstering
in-country testing capacity. In the DR, APHIS supported ASF control and eradication efforts through on-the-ground
technical assistance and providing funding to nongovernmental organizations that assisted with operations. To
increase producer cooperation and more timely disease reporting, the response effort includes indemnity payments
for depopulated swine. APHIS and the DR Ministry of Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding
establishing a framework for control and eradication, including an enhanced surveillance strategy to identify
infected farms, depopulate swine from affected areas, and clean and disinfect affected premises. To implement these
activities, the Agency established an incident command structure to coordinate with the DR’s incident command
team.
Further, APHIS is enhancing regional surveillance in the Caribbean to ensure the disease will be detected outside of
the DR and Haiti; as of the end of 2022 there were no detections of ASF. The Agency also coordinated, organized,
and communicated enhanced feral swine removal operations in the Caribbean to prevent the introduction and spread
of the disease.
2. Bovine Tuberculosis
In 2022, APHIS obligated $1.8 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funds (CCC) on tuberculosis (TB)
eradication activities. In 2022, APHIS identified six TB affected herds: four in Hawaii, one in Michigan’s Modified
Accredited Free Zone, and one with shared operation in Texas and New Mexico. These six herds were placed under
herd management plans. APHIS uses a mix of depopulation and test-and-removal strategies to address bovine TB-
affected herds. These strategies consider herd size, potential indemnity costs, State and owner preferences, herd
genetics, and the probability of removing infection. These six herds were all placed under herd management plans
and were either depopulated or are in various stages of a test-and-remove protocol.
The detection of these herds demonstrates the effectiveness of APHIS’ surveillance system. To respond to TB
detections, APHIS works closely with State animal health officials to quickly identify any cattle that may have come
into contact with the infected herds and conduct thorough trace back investigations. In addition, the States work
closely with the herd owners involved, as well as the State dairy industry, to ensure the disease is quickly contained,
and affected owners can return to normal business practices as soon as possible.
3. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
In 2022, the Secretary provided APHIS approximately $794 million in emergency funding to address nationwide
detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). HPAI is an internationally reportable disease when in
commercial flocks. It is a serious disease that requires rapid response because it is highly contagious, often fatal to
poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock, causing a loss of farm income and potential negative trade
impacts.
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On February 8, 2022, APHIS confirmed the presence of HPAI in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County,
Indiana. This was the first confirmed case of HPAI in U.S. commercial poultry since 2020. As of September 30,
2022, APHIS confirmed the presence of HPAI in 474 premises in 40 States. In addition, APHIS confirmed 2,650
detections in wild birds in at least 87 species across 45 States and Washington D.C. APHIS promptly reports HPAI
detections to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as required by international agreements and informs
international trading partners.
The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and APHIS has been working with its
partners to respond to detections by following Federal and State HPAI response plans, which include implementing
quarantine restrictions, depopulating affected flocks, eliminating the virus from affected premises, and conducting
surveillance in surrounding areas. APHIS’ approach includes ensuring appropriate responses to detections and
education through enhanced biosecurity outreach to prevent further spread from wild birds to poultry. The Agency’s
goal is to quickly contain and eradicate the disease, protecting our poultry industry, and, in turn, the American
consumer.
APHIS was still detecting in commercial and backyard birds by the end of 2022. For context, the 2014-2015 HPAI
outbreak resulted in 225 confirmed commercial or backyard outbreaks in 15 States, and over 50 million birds culled
over the span of six months. The current outbreak has been more complex in terms of the duration of the response
(currently ongoing as the outbreak re-enters the high-risk period with winter wild bird migration), the number of
States affected (40 as of September 30, 2022) and resultant simultaneous requests for resources, and in terms of
more diverse types of premises infected compared to 2014-2015. In late August 2022, detections were decreasing,
with most activities focused on cleaning and disinfecting facilities in preparation for restocking. However, a fall
rebound began occurring, likely because of the fall migratory influx of birds moving south. APHIS is continuing to
monitor resident and migratory birds and will continue to encourage biosafety and vigilance throughout the fall
migration season.
Most countries continue to act in accordance with our bilateral agreements and their own regulations. APHIS
continues to provide HPAI updates on counties that have completed their restriction periods to our trade partners. In
addition, the Agency continues to work with trade partners to reduce restrictions but is encountering difficulties due
to the scope of the outbreak.
4. Farm Bill – Plant Protection Act, Section 7721
The Agricultural Act of 2014 consolidated two of APHIS’ Farm Bill programs under Section 10007: Plant Pest and
Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN). This
authority was codified in Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act (PPA). For 2022, PPA 7721 provided $75 million
for the consolidated program. These funds are subject to the sequestration of mandatory funds ($4.275 million in
2022). Through the program, APHIS funds projects that enhance our ability to safeguard agriculture and facilitate
safe agricultural trade. Cooperators nationwide use this funding to strengthen pest exclusion systems, optimize
domestic pest management and eradication programs, keep commodities moving in commerce without spreading
pests and diseases, and expand market opportunities abroad for U.S. products. This work is critical to the USDA
mission on many fronts, helping American agriculture thrive, across the country and around the world. Since 2009,
USDA has supported more than 4,800 projects and provided nearly $740 million in funding through the Plant Pest
and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program, including projects funded in 2022. Collectively, these
projects allow USDA and its cooperators to strengthen and safeguard the nation’s agricultural infrastructure against
invasive plant pest and diseases. In addition, the NCPN provides reliable sources of pathogen-free planting stock of
high-value specialty crops. Since 2009, the NCPN, through its cooperative agreements program, has provided
approximately $65 million in support of 47 initiatives at 34 clean plant centers or programs in 20 States and U.S.
Territories. These initiatives span commodities ranging from fruit trees, grapes, citrus, berries, hops, sweet potato,
and roses.
Plant Pest and Disease Management
APHIS and cooperators have identified six major strategic goal areas (the first with two sub-goals) to implement
Plant Pest and Disease Management efforts: 1a) enhancing plant pest/disease analysis; 1b) enhancing plant pest
survey; 2) targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points; 3) enhancing pest identification tools and
technology; 4) safeguarding nursery production; 5) conducting targeted outreach and education; and 6) enhancing
mitigation and rapid response capabilities. The program funded 520 projects in 2022, supporting a variety of
Federal, State, academic, Tribal, and private entity stakeholders.
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Enhance Plant Pest/Disease Analysis, Goal 1A
Under this goal, APHIS supports projects that compile, synthesize, or evaluate data to inform or enhance risk and
pathway analysis, surveillance methodology, or resource prioritization. Examples include the development of
analytical models to identify and prioritize exotic pests for survey and response and improving risk modeling and
monitoring for invasive fruit pests. In 2022 the program supported a project to predict dispersal risk following major
weather events to guide plant and pest rapid response efforts, with an emphasis on hurricanes, tropical storms, and
other strong winds, to improve survey strategies for early detection of exotic pests. APHIS will integrate the
resulting risk maps into risk-based models and survey designs to provide a comprehensive risk assessment and
enhance mitigation measures before serious outbreaks. Overall, in 2022, the program provided approximately $2
million for 23 projects in this goal area.
Enhance Plant Pest Survey, Goal 1B
Under this goal, APHIS supports surveys for multiple, high-risk pests not known to be established in the United
States and pests of concern to cooperators. These surveys protect and help small growers and nursery owners avoid
control costs through a more rapid and thorough detection of pests that threaten their operations. One key project is
the National Survey Supply Program that oversees timely procurement and delivery of quality survey supplies, such
as traps and lures, to APHIS, State, and Tribal cooperators. In 2022, the National Survey Supply Program distributed
379,825 plant pest trap and lure units to 50 States and 3 Territories, including approximately 126 different products
to support the various detection activities and surveys that APHIS and State cooperators conduct. The surveys
supported in this goal area complement those conducted under the Pest Detection program (Cooperative Agricultural
Pest Survey) and have expanded the number and scope of pest survey activities across the United States, as well as
help demonstrate our country’s freedom from certain high-risk pests. In 2022, APHIS supported a total of 229
unique pests targeted for survey in all 50 States and five Territories. These included commodity surveys of apple,
grape, stone fruit, palm, solanaceous, small fruit and berries, and other orchard crops, as well as surveys for
defoliators, exotic woodborers, bark beetles and other forest pests, cyst nematodes, mollusks, and pathway surveys
covering multiple agricultural systems. Overall, the program provided approximately $14 million for 188 projects in
this goal area in 2022.
Target Domestic Inspection Activities at Vulnerable Points, Goal 2
Under this goal, APHIS supports domestic inspection activities at high-risk sites (e.g., warehouses and parcel
facilities), inspects regulated articles moving interstate, and uses trained canine detection teams to improve detection
capabilities. Developing these cooperative efforts with State agriculture regulatory agencies helps minimize impacts
to producers and distributors of agricultural commodities. In 2022, the program continued to support canine team
efforts in California, where 11 teams work at Express Couriers and U.S. Postal Service offices in 32 of 58 counties
in the State, and in Florida, where 54 teams work at Express Couriers in 3 counties. With their keen sense of smell,
dogs can detect hidden agricultural products at an accuracy rate higher than 85 percent. The program uses canine
teams to enhance capacity for early detection and better response to exotic pests found during surveys; increases
liaisons between State and Federal cooperators by reviewing, developing, and implementing educational programs;
provides additional resources at high-risk areas within the State for inspection; and benefits inspections at parcel
service locations to enhance interdiction efforts. Overall, the program provided approximately $6.25 million for 15
projects in this goal area in 2022.
Enhance Pest Identification Tools and Technology, Goal 3
Under this goal, APHIS supports the ongoing development of improvements in pest identification and detection.
This includes improved identification capacity and taxonomic understanding of groups of organisms, taxonomic
support for surveys targeting high consequence pests, and the development of pest detection technology. Through
this goal area, the program supported a project to provide molecular diagnostic tools to determine strain and mating
status of fruit fly incursions. This new method will replace the current imperfect and laborious inspection and
dissections methods used to determine if emergency response activities are needed in response to exotic fruit fly
detections. The program provided approximately $6.25 million for 105 projects in support of this goal in 2022.
Safeguard Nursery Production, Goal 4
Under this goal, APHIS supports projects to develop science-based best management practices and risk mitigation
practices to exclude, contain, and control regulated pests from the nursery production chain, and to develop and
harmonize audit-based nursery certification programs. These activities help small producers and distributors
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establish best management practices for mitigating pest risks, reducing operational costs, and enhancing the value of
nursery stock they produce. Examples of projects funded in 2022 include using next generation sequencing to verify
virus-free status of legacy materials in a nursery certification program in Oregon. This certification program ensures
the plant materials are free from pests and diseases of economic and regulatory importance by providing a
mechanism and funding to test materials, which will establish source material at a Clean Plant Network site for
future propagation. This will ensure the materials are free from pests and diseases and available for consumers. The
program also continued supporting projects to evaluate the potential for using sterile insect testing, mating
disruption, and other integrated pest management tools to eradicate box tree moth (BTM). Investment in
development of integrated pest management methods and detection tools for BTM will allow APHIS, State
agriculture officials, and the nursery industry to implement efforts to control or slow the spread of the pest. The
program provided approximately $1.5 million for 14 projects in this goal area in 2022.
Conduct Targeted Outreach and Education, Goal 5
Under this goal, APHIS works to engage the public in early detection efforts by strengthening existing volunteer
networks. APHIS emphasizes efforts that can lead to behavior changes among the public and the regulated
community to prevent the introduction or spread of high-consequence pests into and throughout the United States.
2022 projects in this goal area include a project addressing capacity needs in Native American Tribes by enhancing
awareness and knowledge to prevent the introduction and spread of high consequence pests into and throughout
Tribal lands in Washington. Several projects continued in 2022 including nationwide campaigns raising awareness
of invasive species, such as the PlayCleanGo Campaign to stop the spread of invasive species through recreational
activities, the Hungry Pests campaign that educates and engages the public on preventing the spread of invasive
pests, a variety of projects in multiple States targeting awareness of forest pest outreach, northern giant hornet
(formerly referred to as Asian giant hornet) community outreach and education, and multiple outreach campaigns
for spotted lanternfly (SLF). Overall, the program provided $3.5 million for 52 projects in this goal area in 2022.
Enhance Mitigation and Rapid Response Capabilities, Goal 6
Under the goal of enhancing mitigation capabilities, APHIS provides technical assistance prior to, during, and
immediately following a plant pest outbreak, develops new mitigation tools and strategies, and increases emergency
preparedness through the development of New Pest Response Guidelines and Incident Command System training.
Some of these efforts provide continued support for developing new methods or treatments for economically
significant pests including SLF response, khapra beetle, wood boring and bark beetles, and coffee berry borer,
among others. These efforts also support the development of potato varieties resistant to the pale cyst nematode.
APHIS continued to provide funding under this goal area to the Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA) to address the northern giant hornet. WSDA continued trapping but did not detect any hornets in 2022.
Under this goal area, the program also supported rapid response to a variety of pest and disease outbreaks, including
Oriental fruit fly and Mexican fruit fly outbreaks in California, citrus yellow vein clearing virus in California, BTM
in New York, and SLF in Delaware and Ohio. APHIS also supported the nationwide effort to survey for and control
SLF throughout the East Coast, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia, North
Carolina, and Maryland. Overall, the program provided $28.8 million for 123 projects in this goal area in 2022.
National Clean Plant Network (NCPN)
In 2022, APHIS used $7.5 million in PPA 7721 funds to provide NCPN support to qualified clean plant centers
through a cooperative agreements program. The application process allowed stakeholders to offer input into projects
proposed for funding through pre-proposals, which are designed to help clean plant centers prioritize and harmonize
their resourcing requests. As a result, APHIS entered into 28 cooperative agreements with clean plant centers and
related entities in 16 States and Puerto Rico. The clean plant centers that receive NCPN funding use the resources to:
1) diagnose for harmful pathogens that cause disease in covered specialty crops; 2) apply therapeutic measures to
eliminate these pathogens; 3) establish plantings of clean plant ‘starter’ material and make this material available to
nurseries and growers; 4) work with nurseries and growers in education/outreach programs to communicate the
economic value to industry of using clean nursery stock; 5) advance quality management initiatives to further
strengthen confidence in program processes and products, and 6) engage in the process of establishing and
governing a network of collaborative clean plant centers. These activities result in clean plant centers providing
additional sources of healthy planting stock for fruit trees, grapes, citrus, berries, and hops, sweet potato, and roses.
This healthy planting stock is available to nurseries, growers, breeders, and others, ensuring that they have access to
clean plant material necessary to sustain their businesses, maintain productivity, and improve the quality of their
products.
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Annual deliverables from clean plant centers include:
Fruit Trees – Maintain approximately 900 clean fruit tree accessions in foundations (collections of pathogen-tested
plant materials) that have delivered about 60,000 cuttings and 320,000 seeds on an annual basis.
Grapes – Maintain approximately 1,000 selections of clean grapevine accessions in foundations and distribute more
than 60,000 clean grape-wood cuttings, buds, plants, or seed to industry per year.
Berries – Maintain 350 accessions in tissue culture and screenhouse foundations. Annual nursery sales of 800
million plants in California and 200 million in Florida are from plants originally sourced from NCPN centers.
Citrus – Maintain approximately 2,700 clean citrus tree accessions in foundations and deliver about 575,000 units of
budwood and seed annually. Almost all commercial citrus nursery stock is derived from NCPN material.
Hops – Maintain 50 clean hop selections in foundations that are used to accommodate about 30 percent of the
world’s need for clean hops. The program distributes about 930 propagative units to industry annually; each unit can
be expanded rapidly to provide thousands of plants for planting.
Sweet potato – Maintain about 440 sweet potato accessions and deliver over 930,000 clean plant units including
seed, slips, plants, and tissue culture plant annually.
Roses – Maintain over 850 rose selections in foundations and associated collections and distribute over 80,000 clean
scion and rootstock cuttings annually.
5. Farm Bill – Animal Disease Prevention and Management, Section 12101
The Animal Disease Prevention and Management Program (ADPMP) was authorized by Section 12101 of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334). It created two new animal health programs - the National
Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary
Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB) - and expanded on the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).
The bill provided the first four years of funding ($120 million for 2019 to 2022) upfront as no-year funding, and
provides $30 million in mandatory funding each year thereafter, beginning in 2023. APHIS has the discretion to
distribute the total funding among the three programs, provided that NADPRP receive at least $5 million per year
through 2022, and $18 million per year beginning in 2023. The no-year funding provision provides APHIS with the
flexibility to allocate funding in the most effective manner to safeguard American agriculture. For the NAVVCB,
Congress directed the Agency to prioritize the acquisition of sufficient quantities of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
vaccine antigen concentrate. The funds provided to the NAHLN in the Farm Bill are in addition to appropriated
funds that go to USDA to support the NAHLN. These three programs are critical in supporting APHIS’ efforts to
protect the health and improve the quality, productivity, and economic viability of U.S. livestock, helping farmers
and ranchers provide high-quality agricultural products to domestic and international consumers. The NAHLN
Coordinating Council, the NADPRP Consultation Board, and other leaders in animal health and laboratory
diagnostics provide recommendations for the types of projects that are necessary and are targeted to where they can
make the most impact.
The NADPRP addresses the increasing risk of the introduction and spread within the United States of animal pests
and diseases affecting the economic interests of the U.S. livestock and related industries, including the maintenance
and expansion of export markets. APHIS offers annual competitive funding opportunities and enters into
cooperative agreements with States, universities, industry groups, and other entities to carry out high-value projects
to improve animal disease emergency preparedness efforts. The Agency consults with stakeholders to identify
annual funding priority topics, nominate proposal reviewers, and provide input on funding recommendations. This
consultation is accomplished through the NADPRP Consultation Board and through APHIS’ regular interactions
with stakeholders at livestock sector meetings and meetings with State animal health officials. The NADPRP
Consultation Board is comprised of 16 animal health leaders who represent the program’s eligible entities, including
State animal health officials, livestock industry organizations, universities, and Tribal organizations. In December
2021, the Agency provided $7.6 million for 36 projects focused on supporting animal movement decisions during a
disease outbreak, enhancing States’ emergency vaccination plans, and outreach and education involving animal
disease prevention, preparedness and response. These projects were led by state animal health authorities in 21
States, land-grant universities and industry/veterinary organizations. In addition, APHIS supported and monitored
progress on 85 projects that continued into 2022. NADPRP-funded projects have addressed critical gaps in national,
regional, and State preparedness for high consequence animal disease outbreaks. Significant impact areas of the
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NADPRP program include (1) implementing programs to increase livestock and poultry producer’s use of
biosecurity practices on all types of livestock operations; (2) strengthening State disease response plans and outbreak
response training, including incident management, quarantine controls, disease control vaccination, managing
information and communications, and activities to re-start livestock and poultry businesses after an outbreak; (3)
outreach, education, and training on safe and humane livestock depopulation and carcass disposal to halt disease
spread and testing new technologies to support these activities, and (4) outreach and education to help livestock
owners prevent and prepare for disease outbreaks. APHIS has invested $22.1 million on NADPRP projects since the
program began in 2019.
The NAVVCB has significantly increased the U.S, stockpile of FMD vaccine, its top priority, and provides the
flexibility to stockpile other countermeasures and diagnostics to serve as an insurance policy in case of an outbreak
of a high-consequence foreign animal disease. APHIS awarded contracts to private companies to help supply the
vaccine to the Bank. While APHIS is confident in its ability to exclude FMD from the country, vaccines are an
important part of the Agency’s strategy to eradicate the disease and can be a critical tool to allow America’s farmers
and ranchers to recover quickly should the disease be introduced into the United States. The use of vaccines will
depend on the circumstances of the incursion and will require careful coordination with affected animal industries.
Vaccination helps control the spread of infection by reducing the amount of virus shed by animals and controlling
clinical signs of illness. While an outbreak would temporarily disrupt international markets, vaccination would allow
animals to move through domestic production channels. APHIS will leverage the infrastructure of the National
Veterinary Stockpile for the distribution of vaccine, should it be needed. In 2022, the Agency invested $16.9M in
the NAVVCB, including $13.8M in additional FMD vaccine antigen concentrate; $504,600 for diagnostic test kits
for high consequence animal diseases; and $2.6M in new contracts to purchase classical swine fever vaccine for
APHIS’ National Veterinary Stockpile. The Agency also supported planning for the transition of the NAVVCB
from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) in New York to the new National Bio and Agro-Defense
Facility (NBAF) in Kansas. APHIS has invested $58.6M in the NAVVCB since its inception in 2019.
The NAHLN is a nationally coordinated network and partnership of Federal, State, and university-associated animal
health laboratories that provide animal health diagnostic testing to detect endemic and high-consequence pathogens
in the nation’s food animals. This effort is vital to protecting animal health, public health, and the U.S. food supply.
The NAHLN laboratories serve as an early warning system for detecting animal diseases and pathogens, and they
provide surge capacity during an outbreak and recovery response. Rapidly diagnosing and detecting the extent of an
outbreak plays a key role in limiting the impact on producers. In December 2021, APHIS provided $4.4 million to
support 21 new NAHLN projects in 14 States to enhance early the detection of high-consequence animal diseases
and improve emergency response capabilities at NAHLN veterinary diagnostic laboratories. In addition, the Agency
supported and monitored progress on 74 projects that continued from 2021 into 2022. APHIS has invested $16.9
million in Farm Bill funds to enhance NAHLN network capabilities since 2019, including $14.5 million in
competitive awards and $2.5 million in non-competitive awards for operational support.
Also in December 2021, APHIS provided $4.3 million to support seven NADPRP/NAHLN joint projects focused on
developing and evaluating point-of-care FAD diagnostic tests to enhance the nation’s ability to quickly detect high-
consequence FADs and accelerate response and containment efforts. This was the first joint competitive funding
opportunity provided by NAHLN and NADPRP. The NADPRP Consultation Board and NAHLN Coordinating
Council strongly supported this collaborative initiative that addresses a high priority for all stakeholders.
6. Farm Bill – Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, Section 2408
The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (FSCP) was authorized by Section 2408 of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334). The Farm Bill provided $75 million in mandatory funding for fiscal years
2019 through 2023. This funding is equally divided between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
and APHIS to carry out the pilot program.
The objective of FSCP is to pilot collaborative efforts that address the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native
ecosystems, and human and animal health. Feral swine are an invasive species that damage agricultural crops,
degrade natural systems, and carry diseases that can be passed on to livestock and humans. Feral swine occur across
the United States, but the heaviest concentrations are found in sections of the Southeastern region and stretch as far
west as Texas and Oklahoma with high populations also found in California.
Pilot areas were identified collaboratively by NRCS and APHIS personnel in consultation with State technical
committees. FSCP is delivered within pilot areas through three coordinated components. First, APHIS works
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directly to control feral swine populations. Second, NRCS provides funding to partner organizations to provide
technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers for on-farm trapping and other means of feral swine
control. Partner organizations also provide other services including pre- and post-project damage assessments and
other means to assess progress in control efforts. Finally, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance for
restoration of damage caused by feral swine after those populations have been controlled.
Delivery of FSCP is prioritized to those States that have the highest and most damaging feral swine
populations. While feral swine do have a wide distribution, APHIS has an existing program for controlling the
species that has proved effective in addressing emerging populations in conjunction with States. The pilot program
builds upon and expands work already underway by APHIS’ National Feral Swine Damage Management Program
to remove feral swine while reducing damages in areas with high population densities in partnership with local
government, the private sector, industry, and academia.
Since 2019, USDA has funded 34 projects in 12 States (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas). These projects focus on addressing
issues with a high density of feral swine. Projects can last for one to three years, and all projects are expected to
conclude at the end of 2023. As of the end of 2022, all projects are ongoing. The Agency is also collecting data on
the types and number of agriculture and property resources protected, as well as damage data to those resources, as
part of the effort to best determine the economic impacts of feral swine. Specific to Farm Bill projects, APHIS is
currently protecting an estimated 4.9 million acres of crops, range/pastureland, timber, and other natural resources
from feral swine damage. In addition, an estimated 421,000 head of livestock are being protected. These figures will
continue to be evaluated through the completion of the projects.
Table APHIS-21. Summary of key 2022 CCC/Farm Bill funded activities
Emergency/Activity
Total
Available
in 2022
Total
Obligations
in 2022
1
African Swine Fever ...........................................................................................
$500,000,000
$100,679,116
2
Bovine Tuberculosis ...........................................................................................
13,673,138
1,823,812
3
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ....................................................................
793,660,209
433,061,851
4
Farm Bill – Plant Protection Act, Section 7721 ..................................................
70,725,000
69,932,326
5
Farm Bill – Animal Disease Prevention and Management, Section 12101 ........
49,834,853
34,204,103
6
Farm Bill – Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, Section 2408 .
21,095,702
9,118,425
Total
a
...................................................................................................................
$1,448,988,902
$648,819,634
a/ Total Available includes account recoveries, where applicable.
OTHER APPROPRIATED FUNDED ACTIVITIES
Selected Examples of Recent Progress in – American Rescue Plan
1. American Rescue Plan
In 2021, Congress provided USDA $300 million through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to conduct
monitoring and surveillance of susceptible animals for SARS-CoV-2, addressing the longstanding need to
strengthen our ability for early detection of emerging and zoonotic diseases in animals. APHIS is leading efforts to
better understand and address SARS-CoV-2 in animals, bringing together our experts on wildlife diseases, livestock,
companion, and zoo animals, and partnering with other agencies that protect human and environmental health to
take a One Health approach to the global problem of SARS-CoV-2. These efforts include learning more about the
virus, which animals it affects, and how it is spreading to new locations or species. APHIS is using the funding
provided to build national capacity to potentially prevent or limit the next zoonotic disease outbreak, or the next
global pandemic.
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Leveraging partnerships and external innovations, tools, and capacity are critical to the success of the ARP program.
In 2022, APHIS announced a funding opportunity of up to $24 million for research grants through the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Science Foundation. These funds will make grants available to
eligible state and federal agencies, academia, private organizations or corporations, and individuals. This funding
opportunity will leverage both prior and new One Health partnerships while working toward the goal of preventing
or minimizing the next pandemic. Additionally, these grants will support research that directly aligns with APHIS’
American Rescue Plan strategic framework and provide an expedited method of funding key activities to: address
gaps in surveillance and investigation activities for SARS-CoV-2 in animals, including farmed animals, captive
wildlife, free-ranging wildlife, and companion animals; expand knowledge of susceptibility of species to SARS-
CoV-2 to improve understanding of potential roles or routes of transmission; develop surveillance tools and
strategies for the rapid detection and characterization of emerging and re-emerging pathogens to support an early
warning system to prevent or limit future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks; and identify risks, effective interventions, and
other measures to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the human-animal interface and/or impacts to the food
supply.
In addition to the funding opportunity announcement, APHIS is conducting multiple ARP projects focused on
understanding how the SARS-CoV-2 virus behaves in different animals, how it moves between animals and people,
and what we can do to interrupt the chain of transmission. In 2022, APHIS initiated 18 projects that incorporate
animal surveillance, testing, research, and preventative efforts. Through these projects, APHIS continued to study
the susceptibility of certain mammals to SARS-CoV-2 to help identify species that may serve as reservoirs or hosts
for the virus such as white-tail deer and mink, as well as understand the origin of the virus, and predict its impacts
on wildlife and livestock animals and the risks of cross-species transmission. Additionally, the information gathered
from surveillance efforts will assist in implementing management strategies that will ultimately reduce the potential
of the virus from entering wildlife species, livestock, and companion animals, and prevent transmission to other
animals or people. In 2022, APHIS began developing human dimension studies to identify the most strategic
intervention tools that people would adopt to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. APHIS will continue these
projects and activities in 2023, and beyond.
In 2022, APHIS launched a new website to help stakeholders and the public stay up to date on the Agency’s ongoing
SARS-CoV-2 surveillance projects: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/onehealth
. The website provides
valuable data on testing and surveillance and, over time, will provide an important One Health link by sharing
guidance based on the outcomes of ARP work and linking to valuable information from other One Health partners.
Visitors of the site can read background information on the ARP and APHIS’ ARP Strategic Framework, as well as
summaries of ARP-funded surveillance projects and other activities.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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A
CCOUNT 2: BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE
The appropriations language follows (new language underscored; deleted matter enclosed in brackets):
Buildings and Facilities
1
2
3
For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, environmental support, improvement,
extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and
acquisition of land as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2268a, $3,175,000, to remain available until expended.
LEAD-OFF TABULAR STATEMENT
Table APHIS-22. Lead-Off Tabular Statement (In dollars)
Item
Amount
Estimate, 2023
$3,175,000
Change in Appropriation
0
Budget Estimate, 2024
3,175,000
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PROJECT STATEMENTS
Table APHIS-23. Project Statement on Basis of Appropriations (thousands of dollars, FTE)
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
Chg
Key
Discretionary Appropriations:
Buildings and Facilities ......................................
$3,175
-
$3,175
-
$3,175
-
$3,175
-
-
-
Subtotal ...............................................................
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
-
-
Total Adjusted Appropriation .............................
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
-
-
Total Appropriation ............................................
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
-
-
Recoveries, Other ..............................................
1,884
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Balance Available, SOY .....................................
43,938
-
43,695
-
29,087
-
28,762
-
-$325
-
Total Available ...................................................
48,996
-
46,870
-
32,262
-
31,937
-
-325
-
Balance Available, EOY .....................................
-43,695
-
-29,087
-
-28,762
-
-28,437
-
+325
-
Total Obligations ................................................
5,301
-
17,783
-
3,500
-
3,500
-
-
-
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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Table APHIS-24. Project Statement on Basis of Obligations (thousands of dollars, FTE)
Item
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Inc. or
Dec.
Discretionary Obligations:
Buildings and Facilities ................................................................
$5,301
-
$17,783
-
$3,500
-
$3,500
-
-
Total Obligations ..........................................................................
5,301
-
17,783
-
3,500
-
3,500
-
-
Balances Available, EOY:
Discretionary
Buildings and Facilities ................................................................
3,560
-
1,283
-
958
-
633
-
-$325
General Provision 743 Fruit Fly Rearing Facility .........................
40,135
-
27,803
-
27,803
-
27,803
-
-
Total Bal. Available, EOY ............................................................
43,695
-
29,087
-
28,762
-
28,437
-
-325
Total Available .............................................................................
48,996
-
46,870
-
32,262
-
31,937
-
-325
Recoveries ....................................................................................
-1,884
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bal. Available, SOY .....................................................................
-43,938
-
-43,695
-
-29,087
-
-28,762
-
+325
Total Appropriation ......................................................................
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
3,175
-
-
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GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF OBLIGATIONS AND FTE
Table APHIS-25. Geographic Breakdown of Obligations and FTE (thousands of dollars, FTE)
State/Territory/Country
2021
Actual
FTE
2022
Actual
FTE
2023
Estimated
FTE
2024
Estimated
FTE
Colorado ......................................
$105
-
-
-
-
-
$125
-
Florida .........................................
65
-
$107
-
$100
-
150
-
Iowa ............................................
52
-
706
-
100
-
50
-
Maryland .....................................
402
-
115
-
150
-
200
-
New York ....................................
1,236
-
1,236
-
150
-
225
-
Texas ...........................................
3,442
-
15,619
-
3,000
-
2,750
-
Obligations ..................................
5,301
-
17,783
-
3,500
-
3,500
-
Bal. Available, EOY ...................
43,695
-
29,087
-
-
-
-
-
Total, Available...........................
48,996
-
46,870
-
3,500
-
3,500
-
CLASSIFICATION BY OBJECTS
Table APHIS-26. Classification by Objects (thousands of dollars,)
Item
No.
Item
2021
Actual
2022
Actual
2023
Estimated
2024
Estimated
Other Objects:
25.2
Other services from non-Federal sources
$3,435
$17,783
$3,500
$3,500
25.3
Other goods and services from Federal sources
1,866
-
-
-
Total, Other Objects
5,301
17,783
3,500
3,500
99.9
Total, new obligations
5,301
17,783
3,500
3,500
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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JUSTIFICATION
Buildings and Facilities: $3,175,000 available in 2023.
The Buildings and Facilities (B&F) program addresses facility needs in support of the Agency’s mission to protect
the health and value of agriculture and natural resources nationwide. The program’s goal is to systematically address
the Agency’s needs for maintaining and repairing existing facilities, as well as constructing new facilities. APHIS’
Facility Condition Index (FCI) drives the projects; the FCI is the sum of the costs of needed repairs divided by the
replacement value of the facility. APHIS strives to maintain an FCI for facilities assessed of less than 0.10, meaning
that the cost to make repairs is less than 10 percent of the estimated replacement value for the facility.
This program serves a vital role in maintaining APHIS’ facilities so that employees can continue to carry out their
responsibilities in a safe and efficient manner. The commitment to maintain the condition and functionality of
facilities is an ongoing process that demands significant management of capital resources. The program manages the
implementation of scheduled facility improvements, safety, construction, and maintenance. Contractors perform
inspections and tests to substantiate that the supplies or services furnished under the contract conform to contract
requirements. In addition, a design firm validates that the work aligns with approved plans and specifications.
APHIS typically identifies on-site certified personnel to perform the contracting services. The Agency’s engineering
staff assist with the development of project plans, attend on-site construction progress meetings/reviews, and APHIS
collects performance data through contractor reports and on-site verification.
In 2022, APHIS awarded 18 design/construction tasks associated with projects at a cost of approximately $5.43
million and completed 21 construction projects. Approximately 50 percent of these projects were major renovations,
and the remaining were for minor repairs. Examples of these major or minor renovation projects include replacing
the HVAC system (Building 6414) and the Combined Underground Utility Upgrades at Moore Air Base, Mission,
TX, upgrading the incinerator at the New York Animal Import Center (NYAIC) in Rock Tavern, New York, and the
construction of a Bio-Archive Storage facility at the National Wildlife Research Center, Ft. Collins, CO.
The B&F program allows APHIS to centrally coordinate and prioritize these types of projects. Without necessary
maintenance and repairs to facilities there could be program delays, environmental impacts, and noncompliance with
State and local laws and codes. Many of APHIS’ facilities have specialized functions that support various Federal,
State, and local government programs, stakeholders, and customers. B&F projects ensure that APHIS’ programs can
be conducted at safe, secure, sustainable, and high-performing facilities.
Approximately 99 percent of B&F funding supports indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts (e.g., architect
and engineering support), and construction contracts. These contracts, which provide indefinite supplies or services
during a fixed period, help streamline the contract process and expedite service delivery. The remaining funds
support operating costs.
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STATUS OF PROGRAMS
The Buildings and Facilities (B&F) appropriation funds major, nonrecurring construction projects in support of
program activities, recurring construction, alterations, and repairs of existing facilities. The goal of the B&F
program is to systematically address the Agency’s needs for maintaining and repairing existing facilities as well as
new construction. This program serves a vital role in maintaining APHIS’ facilities so that employees can carry out
their responsibilities safely and efficiently. Maintaining facility condition and functionality is an ongoing process
that demands significant management of capital resources. Many of APHIS’ facilities have specialized functions that
support various Federal, State, and local government programs, as well as stakeholders and customers. B&F projects
ensure that APHIS’ programs are conducted at safe, secure, sound, sustainable, and high-performance facilities that
support the Agency’s mission.
APHIS’ B&F program maximizes its efficiency through comprehensive construction projects. The Agency spends
approximately 99 percent of its funding on indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity and construction contracts. These
contracts, which provide an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period, help streamline the
contract process and expedite service delivery. Remaining B&F funds support information technology projects (i.e.,
Facilities Capital Planning and Management software).
Facilities Condition Assessment
APHIS assigns each facility with a Facility Condition Index (FCI), which is the sum of the costs of needed repairs
divided by the replacement value of the facility and uses the FCI scores to determine each year’s projects. APHIS
strives to maintain an FCI for facilities assessed of less than 0.10, meaning that the cost to make repairs is less than
10 percent of the estimated replacement value for the facilities.
Since 2000, APHIS has used a comprehensive Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA) program to better understand
the condition of facilities, strategically maintain them by identifying deficiencies and funding needs, stabilize the
facilities repair backlog, predict maintenance needs, and implement financial management and capital asset
improvement efforts. To implement this FCA program, a consulting firm is tasked with assessing the relative
condition of assets and facilitating comparisons both within and among APHIS' facilities. This firm calculates an
FCI for each facility by program. The effects of COVID-related travel restrictions reduced facility assessment
efforts in 2021, but efforts were made to resume normal assessment procedures in 2022. As a result, APHIS
completed 2 FCA’s and awarded 4 contractual FCA requests.
Summary of Current Projects
The B&F program implements scheduled improvements, and conducts security, construction, and maintenance
activities. Contractors perform inspections and tests to substantiate that the supplies or services furnished under the
contract conform to its requirements. In addition, a third-party design firm validates that the work aligns with
approved plans and specifications. APHIS typically identifies on-site certified personnel to perform the Contracting
Officer’s Representative services. The Agency’s engineering staff attends construction progress meetings, and
APHIS collects performance data through contractor reports and on-site verification.
As of October 2022, APHIS’ B&F appropriation supported seventeen active projects. In 2022, APHIS awarded 18
design/construction tasks associated with projects at a cost of approximately $5.43 million and completed 21
construction projects. Approximately 50 percent of these projects were major renovations, and the remaining were
for minor repairs. Construction progress and final inspection reports are performed to ensure construction
modifications are in accordance with the design plans and in compliance with Federally operated facility
requirements.
Some of the ongoing renovation projects include replacing the HVAC system (Building 6414) and the Combined
Underground Utility Upgrades at Moore Air Base, Mission, TX, , upgrading the incinerator at the New York Animal
Import Center (NYAIC) in Rock Tavern, New York, and the construction of a Bio-Archive Storage facility at the
National Wildlife Research Center, Ft. Collins, CO. Progress on these projects in 2022, are summarized below:
Moore Air Base, Building 6414 HVAC System
This project includes replacing existing chilled water piping and air handling units that have reached their life
expectancy for optimal usage. The construction contract was awarded in 2021, construction began in 2022, and is
expected to be complete by the end of 2023.
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Moore Air Base, Combined Underground Utility Upgrades
This project will address the needed repairs for an 80+ year old infrastructure so that current and future Agency
mission operations may continue. The scope of this project includes the installation of a new sanitary sewer system,
electrical upgrades, and changes to an antiquated communication infrastructure at this facility in Mission, TX. A
construction contract was awarded for this project in 2022.
NYAIC Incinerator Upgrades
The NYAIC is an animal quarantine center used to screen birds and hoof stock entering the country. In 1980, two
gas-fired incinerators were installed to destroy animal bedding and similar type waste. Recent revisions to the air
emission standards upheld by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, state that
incinerators and crematories installed prior to January 1, 1989 must meet a more stringent air emission requirement.
If the new standards are not met, NYAIC could possibly be fined and/or the incinerators shutdown until compliance
is achieved. APHIS is proactively upgrading the incinerators. The construction contract for this project was awarded
in 2021 and construction was completed in 2022.
Bio-Archive Storage facility at the National Wildlife Research Center
Congress provided funding to the National Wildlife Research Center to expand chronic wasting disease research
efforts. The construction of a new Bio-Archive Storage facility will provide the ability to maintain an archive of
biological samples from extensive surveillance efforts and samples for diseases of national significance for both
trade and human health. A design-build contract was awarded for this project in 2022.
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A
GENCY-WIDE PERFORMANCE
Introduction
OBPA leads the Department in performance management including, evaluation, evidence, and risk management; it
also chairs the Performance, Evaluation, Evidence Committee (PEEC) and the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
committee. APHIS is a member of both the PEEC and ERM committees which is comprised of individuals from
different Mission Areas and backgrounds throughout USDA. The impact of different perspectives and expertise
allows for improvements regarding buy-in across the Department, augments technical expertise, and creates a
greater diversity of perspectives. Partnerships with the Chief Data Officer and Statistical Officer allow for greater
insight and advisement on data access, data quality, and statistical methods. APHIS’ Policy and Program
Development unit spearheads its efforts in Strategic Planning, Performance, Evidence and Evaluation, and
Enterprise Risk Management, works directly with OBPA and senior leadership, and actively engages with both
internal and external stakeholders.
Alignment to USDA 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan
APHIS activities contribute to the success of USDA’s overall mission to provide leadership on food, agriculture,
natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues using sound public policy, the best available
science, and effective management, to the benefit of all Americans. APHIS is responsible for achieving and
measuring results with respect to the following 2022 – 2026 Strategic Goal and Objectives:
Strategic Goal 2: Ensure that America’s agricultural system is equitable, resilient, and prosperous
Objective 2.1: Protect agricultural health through minimizing the impact of major pests, diseases, and wildlife
conflicts
Summary of Performance
A more detailed report of the performance plan can be found at
https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-
usda/performance. The following table summarizes the results for the Departmental Key Performance Indicators
(KPIs) for which APHIS is responsible.
Table APHIS-27. KPI-Animal and Plant Health
Strategic Objective 2.1
2022
2023
2024
Wildlife Disease Sampling
Results
16
-
-
2.1.1 Number of zoonotic and agricultural diseases
sampled in wildlife
Target Baseline 17 18
Strategic Objective 2.1
2022
2023
2024
Climate Suitability Mapping
Results
16
-
-
2.1.2 Number of priority pests for which climate
suitability maps have been completed
Target Baseline 24 32
Expected Performance Progress Towards the Achievement of Strategic Objectives:
Strategic Objective 2.1: Protect agricultural health through minimizing the impact of major pests, diseases, and
wildlife conflicts.
• Wildlife Disease Sampling: This KPI represents the number of zoonotic and agricultural diseases for
which APHIS has developed methods and procedures to sample in wildlife.
o In 2024, APHIS will develop methods and procedures to sample for new zoonotic or agriculturally
significant diseases in wildlife, for a total of 18 diseases. APHIS currently reports on 16 diseases
in wildlife populations, including African swine fever, avian influenza, chronic wasting disease,
rabies variants, and SARS-CoV-2. APHIS will add new sampling methods based on those diseases
that pose the highest risk to agricultural health or human health, in the case of zoonotic diseases.
2024 USDA EXPLANATORY NOTES – ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
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• Climate Suitability Maps: This KPI represents the number of maps APHIS has completed related to
climate suitability for high-risk pests and diseases.
o In 2024, APHIS will continue developing climate suitability maps for high-risk pests and diseases,
for a total of 32 maps by the end of 2024. APHIS will determine which pests to prioritize based on
continuing analysis of the risks. APHIS will continue to work with state partners and other map
users to improve the usefulness of the maps, including providing a user guide that illustrates how
the maps can be used to inform survey planning.
o APHIS customizes each pest model, and some models require more time than others due to data
gaps and variability in pest biology. For example, plant pathogens have complex life cycles that
are difficult to incorporate in climate suitability models; therefore, the Agency plans to develop a
framework for addressing some of these challenges. Additionally, the maps include varying levels
of uncertainty about pest establishment. APHIS continues to evaluate how users interpret the maps
and how to improve communication so that they can be accurately applied.
