The second 2024/2025 RFP round has officially opened and will close at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. 

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Please be aware that funds to the Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence are pending an approved 24/25 fiscal year state budget. 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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$600,000 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 Fiscal Year 2024/2025 RFP Round  

 

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 ID outreach.
• Mitigation of highly contagious disease spread and disposal of waste products.
• Outreach education meetings for the less represented communities.
• Rapid Response Initiatives.

 

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 feasibility demonstration sites and facilities.
• Disseminate knowledge to producers regarding diagnostic tools available through PADLS system and other sources to support food animal production.
• Telemedicine and Augmented Reality: Development, Training, and Opportunities for food animal veterinarians.
• 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.
• Food Animal Training opportunities for college students and veterinarians – a partnership between students and producers/industry
• Opportunities to bring poultry veterinarian students to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth.
• Aiding in Family Farm Transitions.
• Provide sample collection training opportunities with a state veterinarian in response to animal disease.
• Small farm veterinarian assistant support.

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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.
• Precision Livestock Farming
• Small ruminant nutrition

 

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 food-borne illness, including, but not limited to, on-farm safety, processing, and sanitation guidelines.

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

• Research on Animal well-being.

• Maintain competitiveness with the changing market.

• Educational material to educate largely on concerns, priorities and actionable measures needed.

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Submit proposals online no later than 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January  22, 2025.

​QUESTIONS? Contact Jennifer Reed-Harry at 717.651.5920  or  jrharry@pennag.com to inquire for sponsorship requests.