Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today called for proposals for $450,000 in research grants through the Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence created under the PA Farm Bill. The center, funded at $1 million for 2023-24, is among the critical investments in a robust future for Pennsylvania agriculture in the first budget of Governor Josh Shapiro's Administration.
"Funding these projects expands our capacity to tackle costly, complex challenges like the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza crisis, and other diseases that threaten our food supply," said Redding. "Research feeds innovation and productivity, keeping Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry growing."
Since 2019, Pennsylvania has invested $4.5 million in the center to cultivate innovation and strengthen Pennsylvania's animal agriculture sector. The center has been a key partner in managing the outbreak of avian influenza in 2022 and early 2023, and in continual planning to ensure continuity of business for Pennsylvania's poultry and livestock industries.
The center invites research proposals that focus on poultry, swine, sheep, and goat production, including projects that:
- advance biosecurity protections and animal disease emergency preparation and response;
- build Pennsylvania's animal agriculture infrastructure, increasing workforce skill proficiency and technology use, including telemedicine use by veterinarians;
- increase food security by enhancing the state's supply chain and decreasing risks; and
- applied research to address emerging diseases and their economic impact, explore regenerative livestock production, and precision farming.
Proposals can be submitted online no later than 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Complete proposal guidelines as well as research currently funded and underway, project success stories, and an archive of funded projects can be found on the center's website.
Learn more about the PA Farm Bill and other initiatives and investments to grow, protect and sustain Pennsylvania's agriculture industry at agriculture.pa.gov.
Media Contact: Shannon Powers – 717.603.2056; shpowers@pa.gov
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