Grant Program Now Open for Large Animal Veterinarians to Review Biosecurity Plans

The Grants Will Reimburse Veterinarians For Time Spent Assisting Their Dairy Farm Clients in PA

The Center for Dairy Excellence is now accepting applications from large animal veterinarians for the Biosecurity Plan Veterinary Review Program. The program is specifically designed to reimburse large animal veterinarians for the time they spend with individual dairy farm clients in Pennsylvania. The grants would reimburse these veterinarians for time spent reviewing producers’ biosecurity plans and National FARM protocols to ensure those plans are well-written to document biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Grants are available for veterinarians to work with up to 10 farms, with a total grant award of $3,000 per individual veterinarian. A total in $30,000 in funding is available for this program. All funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications must be submitted by April 30, 2025.

“The spread of HPAI in dairy across the country has elevated the need for dairy producers to have well-developed biosecurity plans and protocols in place. Yet, many dairy farms do not have the capacity to develop those plans on their own. This grant is intended to leverage that veterinarian client patient relationship to ensure more farm families are prepared and protected against any risks related to biosecurity,” said Melissa Anderson, Programs and Operations Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence.

This program will reimburse veterinarians for two hours of time at $150 per hour for each farm that they assist in reviewing and completing those biosecurity plans. Grants are available for veterinarians to work with up to 10 farms, with a total grant award of $3,000 per individual veterinarian. Multiple veterinarians from the same clinic can apply.

With the program utilizing funds provided through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all farms that veterinarians work with must have a Pennsylvania address to qualify as a reimbursable expense through the Center. However, a veterinarian does not have to be located in Pennsylvania to qualify. To qualify as a reimbursable farm, a dairy farm must also have a signed Veterinarian Client Patient Agreement on file with the veterinarian. The veterinarian must have the farmer sign an affirmation statement that the service was provided and satisfactory to be reimbursed.

If requested, the Center will provide biosecurity resource kits and planning templates to veterinarians to share with dairy farms to assist in completing and reviewing their plans. Veterinarians must submit a grant application by April 30, 2025. Assistance must be provided by the veterinarians to the farms between April 1 and June 15 but not prior to receiving a letter of acceptance from the Center for Dairy Excellence. This program closes with all reimbursement forms due by June 30, 2025.

To learn more and submit an application by April 30, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/biosecurity-plan-veterinary-review-program. Contact Melissa Anderson at 717-788-0296 or manderson@centerfordairyexcellence.org with questions about the program.