DATCP: Grants Available for Johne’s Disease Control

Aug. 31 Deadline–Grants Available For Johne’s Disease Control; Applicants Need Risk Assessments, Herd Plans
Media contact only: Donna Gilson 608-224-5130
Producer contact: Darlene Konkle  608-224-4352
       
MADISON – Wisconsin cattle and goat producers in the Johne’s Disease Risk Management Program can apply until Aug. 31 for grants up to $1,000 for equipment and materials that help control Johne’s disease on their farms.


To be part of the program and eligible for grants, farmers must have had an initial or renewal Johne’s disease risk assessment done by a certified veterinarian in the past 14 months or complete one before applying for these funds. These grants must be used in projects recommended in herd plans that result from the risk assessment. Funding is limited.



The grants will reimburse dairy and beef producers up to $1,000, and goat producers up to $600, or 75 percent of the cost, whichever is less.  Producers must pay at least 25 percent of the project cost.  The grants will cover costs incurred between July 1 and Nov. 30. 


Applications will be evaluated and ranked after Aug. 31, and applicants will be notified by Sept. 15 whether they will receive funding.


Examples of eligible purchases include:



    • Gates to segregate cows at calving
    • Portable calf hutches
    • Calf carts to move newborns away from the calving area
    • High temperature/pressure sprayers to clean sensitive areas
    • Pasteurizers for waste milk fed to calves
    • Freezers for colostrum from Johne’s-negative dams
    • Feed and manure handling equipment to minimize contamination
    • Feed bunks and waterers 

This is the third round of equipment grant funding.  Producers who have previously received grants are eligible.


Application materials are available by calling or emailing Debbie Elliott, 608-224-4893, deb.elliott@datcp.state.wi.us, or Dr. Darlene Konkle, 608-224-4352, darlene.konkle@datcp.state.wi.us , or online at www.datcp.state.wi.us.


This funding is part of a grant received by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Veterinary Services.  The USDA funding also pays for online training to certify veterinarians to conduct risk assessments, pays them up to $250 per risk assessment completed, and covers up to $300 of testing costs incurred as part of the herd plan.


Johne’s disease is a chronic bacterial infection that strikes ruminants such as cattle and goats, and is transmitted via fecal contamination of the environment, food, water, and teats.  The infection causes intestinal walls to thicken so animals can’t absorb nutrients, causing weight loss, diarrhea, reduced milk production and lower fertility.  Animals are commonly infected early in life, but don’t usually show any symptoms until they are older – often soon after they calve.  This means they may be spreading the disease before the producer is aware of it.