WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making available up to $3.5 million for state and tribal governments to carry out research and management activities to help combat chronic wasting disease in farmed and wild deer and elk populations.
State departments of agriculture, state animal health agencies, state departments of wildlife or natural resources and tribes are eligible to submit funding proposals that further develop and implement chronic wasting disease management, response and research activities, including surveillance and testing.
The funding can also be used to support education and outreach activities to increase awareness about the disease and how it spreads. APHIS will give priority to states and tribes that have already detected chronic wasting disease and implemented monitoring and surveillance programs or that propose to create control programs.
In May, APHIS held a virtual summit with state agricultural and wildlife representatives, tribal officials and the cervid industry to discuss and develop funding priorities. Proposals may range from $50,000 to $250,000 per eligible entity. Applications will be reviewed, and funding decisions will be announced by Sept. 30.
The funding opportunity announcement will be posted on grants.gov. Applications are due Aug. 14.
