​The second 2025/2026 RFP round has officially opened and will close at 11 a.m. on Monday, December  22, 2025. 

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Funds for the Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence are pending an approved 25/26 fiscal year state budget.  Please note we are currently accepting applications, but funding awards/research agreements will not be issued until the state budget has been approved/passed and funding for the CPLE is in place.*

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Below outlines the priority areas of research the Board is looking for in this round of their RFP proposals.

 

The Board looks favorably upon projects where there are partnerships as well as funding co-sponsors, projects with a valid prospective approach to research rooted in a solid basis of sound practices and the impact on Pennsylvania agriculture, and multiple species benefit from the research. In addition, the Board accepts proposals for sponsorship of events and activities that attract a statewide (Pennsylvania) audience. There is a separate application for sponsorship dollars.

 

If interested in submitting a proposal for sponsorship of events and activities benefitting Pennsylvania animal agriculture, including poultry, sheep/goat, and swine farmers, please contact Jennifer Reed-Harry at jrharry@pennag.com for details on this type of application.  

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Subject to approval of the state 25/26 budget, $900,000 is available this round for projects related to the following areas as it relates to poultry, swine, sheep and goat production in the Commonwealth, as described below.

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Priority Areas For Research For Second RFP Round
Fiscal Year 2025/2026 

 

Biosecurity

Biosecurity and proper preparedness continue to be of utmost concern to CPLE. The emphasis remains on lamb, sheep, goat, swine, and poultry producers across the Commonwealth. As we assess the threat of diseases (foreign and domestic), the value of biosecurity planning and planning for mass casualty will be a tremendous value to the agriculture community, food supply, and the continuity of business.

• Cost share/funding for development, implementation, and maintenance of biosecurity plans and secure food supply planning and premise identification outreach.

• Mitigation of highly contagious disease spread and disposal of waste products.

• Designated programs for PA Swine to ensure their readiness if a disease would impact their operation. (This includes but is not limited to: table top exercises, response planning, US SHIP and similar program work to ensure continuity of business.)

• Educational outreach to underserved communities.

 

Animal Agriculture Infrastructure

Agriculture is the #1 business in Pennsylvania. Diagnostics is one of the concerns, as well as the need for workforce development (apprenticeships, internships, the sincere need to build capacity in Pennsylvania for our industry).

 

At this time, we need to invest in tools and equipment within our university systems to ensure students are proficient in the use of modern technology. Additionally, expanding Pennsylvania’s diagnostic tools in university labs will decrease the number of samples being outsourced.

 

Another constraint in the Commonwealth is the vastness of our state and the ability to have veterinarians serve all the areas of need as it relates to lamb, sheep/goat, swine and poultry.

The importance of remote access to veterinarians greatly increased and we view this as an emerging area to meet the needs of underserved areas.

• Identify and train Subject Matter Experts in mass depopulation, disposal, disinfection, and composting of domestic livestock providing educational opportunities in the form of demonstration sites, training sessions and table top exercises.

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• Increase awareness and availability of diagnostic tools and uses within universities and PADLS system to support food animal production, which includes but is not limited to: training in sample collection.

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• Develop necessary infrastructure to support necessary diagnostics in the event of introduction of a food animal foreign animal disease into PA for species of CPLE interest.

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• Telemedicine and Augmented Reality: Development, Training, and Opportunities as well as limitations for food animal veterinarians’ utilization across the Commonwealth.

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• Food Animal Internship Opportunities for college students – a partnership between students and producers/industry with a vision to foster a valued learning experience and showcase the vast meaningful career opportunities awaiting the field of agriculture.

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• Food Animal Training Opportunities for college students and veterinarians – partnering with industry to provide ‘real life/hands on’ training, job shadowing and networking.

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• Offer a student loan repayment opportunity targeted to food animal veterinarian school graduates who have accepted a position/practicing in PA.

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Applied Research

There continues to be a need to conduct specific research for new and emerging issues facing livestock producers of lamb, sheep, goat, swine and poultry.

• Solicitation of industry input on specific diseases (infectious and noninfectious diseases) to identify and estimate the economic impact the disease would have on PA food animal operations.

• Establish practices and protocols to mediate/prevent/eliminate/eradicate infectious and non-infectious diseases and infestations.

• Explore regenerative practices in animal production such as heirloom breeds.

• Projects related to feeds and feedings, such as mycotoxins in feed and so forth.

•Research and knowledge sharing with producers and stakeholders related to small ruminant nutrition.

• Expand knowledge base of PA Swine Producers on nutrition, testing protocols and standard operating procedures, emergency preparedness of foreign animal disease, consumer demands and animal care and well-being.

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Food Security                                                                      

Pennsylvania is uniquely located within an 8-hour drive of 80% of the population in the United States, which allows PA products to be freshest to market.  Coupled with the diversity of animal agriculture in the Commonwealth, we need to enhance our network of those working in this area to verify they have measures in place to ensure food safety while maintaining the needs of their customers.

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• Cyber Attack – protecting food supply through the entire food chain.

• On-Farm processing and selling of poultry, swine, lamb, sheep, and Goats. Audit system to lower risks related to foodborne illness, including, but not limited to, on-farm safety, processing, and sanitation guidelines.

• Understand processing limitations and challenges for swine producers and develop methods to improve harvesting capacity.

• Better understand the various ethnic (cultural/faith) markets to increase traceability of direct marketed, custom-harvested food animals.

• Messaging on animal well-being and the various production practices associated with agriculture as a means to increase knowledge and awareness of food production to ensure consumer confidence and securing Pennsylvania Agricultures role in the competitive market.

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​​​Submit proposals online no later than 11:00 AM on Monday, December  22, 2025.

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 To apply, please complete the online form and email your video and
pdf of your full proposal, including budget justification, to  jrharry@pennag.com.

 

SPONSORSHIPS

The Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence will consider sponsorship requests for events and activities with statewide (Pennsylvania) impact as it relates to Poultry, Swine, Lamb, Sheep and Goat production. Please note: CPLE is not awarding FY 2025-2026 funds until the state budget has been approved/passed and funding for the CPLE line is secure.  You are welcome to submit your request at this time by completing the sponsorship form.

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QUESTIONS?

Contact Jennifer Reed-Harry at 717.651.5920  or  jrharry@pennag.com.​​