APHIS

Last week, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced he was nominating Xochitl Torres Small for the Ag department deputy secretary position that will soon be vacated.   “Under Secretary Torres Small who is currently operating our Rural Development missionary has done a terrific job of communicating the mission of Rural Development and understands and appreciates the important role that Department of Agri

A group of Senators is urging the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to take swift action to address the ongoing avian influenza outbreak.  The lawmakers recently asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to quickly use funds provided by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill.   Led by...

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposes to amend animal disease traceability regulations and require electronic identification for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison.  APHIS has also proposed revising and clarifying record requirements.  The cha...

Bird flu has been reported again in Oregon.  According to the state Department of Agriculture, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered September 28th in two private flocks of 60 chickens and ducks in Tillamook County.  The flock ow...

The Department of Agriculture recently announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on a new approach to indemnity valuation and a new indemnity framework.  The advanced notice describes two structural changes to the indemnity regulations.  ...

It is summer, but temperatures have been a little hotter than normal for the Pacific Northwest.  Cathy Campitelli of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service offers this advice: "If you feel like it's muggy and hot, your dog or cat, or other pets feel it too, even more so." ...

Planning an outdoor activity soon this spring? Are you planning on traveling? Van Pichler of USDA's Animal and Pant Health Inspection Service advises avoiding and preventing hitchhikers; the evasive planter pest variety that can cause unwanted infestation and threaten native plant species ...

While much has been accomplished in its 50 years of existence, the Administrator of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Kevin Shea, said efforts to prevent and control pest and disease threats will never really end. For instance, he pointed to efforts to keep African Swine Fever out of our country ...

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is celebrating a major milestone; 50 years of serving the public as a federal agency. USDA created APHIS on April 2, 1972, to consolidate animal health, plant health, and inspection duties under one roof. The ...

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wednesday announced the final Strategic Framework outlining how the Agency will advance surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. USDA says early detection and response to pathogens with zoonotic potential while still in animals is essential in limiting or preventing human outbreaks. Addi ...