15.5 Federal Funding and Support

Managing the short- and long-term consequences of terrorism is among the responsibilities of state and local government supplemented by the resources of the federal government.  Issues related to activities such as initial response, animal quarantines, security in communities following an event, and short- and long-term recovery are some of the many responsibilities faced by state and local officials.

To date, federal support for state departments of agriculture has been very limited.  Modest USDA support was provided to enhance animal and plant laboratories and to begin work on projects including rapid notification and other systems.  While billions of dollars in funding was provided through CDC to state health departments for uses including food security, cost share mechanisms and other barriers have all but excluded agriculture departments from receiving funds. 

NASDA urges that immediate support be provided to departments of agriculture to enhance bioterrorism preparedness and response capacity across the nation. Further, funding is needed immediately for research in all critical aspects, and funds must be targeted not just to traditional defense research laboratories, but to institutions with expertise in food and agriculture issues.

NASDA urges that all federal homeland security funding, including funds earmarked for local jurisdictions, be distributed through the states and territories in order to enhance regional response capabilities within the states and territories and to advance the comprehensive homeland security strategy of each state and territory. Federal funds and technical assistance should be provided for the completion of state and local risk and threat assessments.


  • The Food and Agriculture Protection Strategy
    Last updated: September 20, 2011

    based on identified risks and vulnerabilities Congress should guide funding decisions.  Federal funds are specifically needed to enhance or improve:

    •  Inspection, testing and surveillance activities;
    •  Information sharing through web-based and other electronic systems;
    • Oversight of imported foods;
    • Food, veterinary diagnostic and plant laboratory capacity;
    • Epidemiology, investigation and traceback efforts;
    • Standard training and certification;
    • Risk mitigation;
    • Animal identification and product traceback mechanisms;
    • Threat, vulnerability, and risk assessment
    • Research

    Funding to state and local agricultural and food agencies needs to be dedicated on a long term basis through a predictable, multi-year mechanism to maximize the ability of local and state governments to plan for necessary program enhancements. Developing enhanced agriculture and food protection capacities requires a long-term commitment from the federal government to state and local agencies.