For older awards, visit the Awards Archive. For completed project results, visit the Success page.
Investigating the Risk of Theileriosis to Livestock Farms in Pennsylvania
Theileriosis is a disease caused by a parasite that infects cattle through tick bites. The disease can lead to anemia, weight loss, pregnancy loss and even death in severe cases. Researchers are investigating how common the disease is in Pennsylvania, which ticks are spreading it, and how big of a risk it poses to local farms.
D. Tufts (Univ of Pitt)
$108,931
Poultry, Pork & Manure Handlers EXPO
A one-day event dedicated to pork, poultry, and nutrient management featured industry experts and a trade show at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center.
PennAg Industries Association
$5,000
Lamb, Sheep & Goat Workshops
Hands-on workshop on profitable livestock management strategies for sheep and goat producers in Westmoreland and Lebanon Counties.
Lamb & Wool Growers & Bedford Extension
$2,253
Hands-on Biosecurity for Pennsylvania
The Hands-on Biosecurity for Pennsylvania project gives farmers the tools and training they need to protect their animals from disease. This project provides practical, hands-on training to farmers, teaching them simple but effective steps like proper cleaning, safe visitor policies, and disease monitoring to keep their farms safe.
G. Lorenzoni (PSU)
$53,405
Animal Composting Educational Consultation Team
This project funds an Animal Composting Educational Consultation Team to help farmers properly and safely compost livestock and poultry that have died. This team provides expert guidance and hands-on training to ensure the process is done correctly, reducing odor, preventing disease spread and staying compliant with regulations.
A. Bigge (PSU)
$52,147
Biosecurity Signage and Emergency Contact Boards
Biosecurity and emergency action plan signage are available free of charge to farmers and others in the ag industry by request.
PennAg Industries Association
$49,122
Keystone International Livestock Exposition (KILE)
Held at the PA Farm Show Arena, this premier event brought together over 3,000 top-tier animals, showcasing more than 1,200 beef cattle, 1,000 sheep, 300 horses, 250 pigs, and 250 goats.
KILE Committee
$5,000
Machine Learning Models that Use Pig Vocalization as an Indicator of Animal Health and Welfare
By using machine learning (a type of artificial intelligence) to “listen” to pig vocalizations, researchers aim to create a system that can identify health or welfare issues early, even before visible symptoms appear. Early detection means faster treatment, which can prevent disease from spreading, reduce losses, and improve overall pig welfare.
T. Parsons (UPenn)
$95,739
Graduate Student Support for Applied Turkey Amino Acid Nutrition Research
Feed is one of the biggest costs in raising turkeys. If turkeys get the right balance of amino acids, they grow healthier and more efficiently. This project funds a graduate student to conduct research on the best way to feed turkeys, specifically focusing on amino acids.
J. Boney (PSU)
$131,837
Inactivation of Avian Viruses with Chlorine Dioxide Treatment
If chlorine dioxide proves to be a safe and effective way to eliminate these viruses, it could become a valuable tool for keeping poultry healthier, reducing disease outbreaks, and improving overall farm biosecurity.
R. Nissly (PSU)
$49,955
An Integrated Behavioral Data Platform for Machine Learning Auto Annotation
AgriGates is a high-tech tool designed to help researchers and farmers better understand animal behavior using artificial intelligence (AI). It collects and organizes data from livestock so that AI can quickly and accurately analyze it, helping identify health issues or unusual behaviors early.
D. Foy – AgriGates
$93,900
Sheep & Goat Ag Mag
Educational materials promoting ag literacy, perfect for 3-5th grade, as an introduction to sheep and wool production with information on careers, wool, and sheep varieties.
Friends of Ag – PA Farm Bureau
$9,000
Ag Progress Days Breakfast
The Ag Progress Days Breakfast focuses on animal agriculture and biosecurity, hosted by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences at the annual Ag Progress Days agricultural exhibition.
PennAg Industries Association
$1,216
Streamlined Virus Isolation and Sequencing for Fowl Adenovirus Diagnostics
Fowl adenovirus can cause serious diseases in chickens and turkeys. A quicker, more reliable test means veterinarians and farmers can detect outbreaks sooner and respond faster.
M. Martin (PSU)
$37,582
Epidemiologic Investigation of Blackhead Disease Outbreaks in PA Poultry Flocks
Blackhead disease is a serious illness that affects turkeys and chickens, causing high death rates, especially in turkeys. By identifying how the disease spreads, this research can help farmers improve prevention strategies.
Industry & PSU
$26,000
Characterization of Ovine Progressive Pneumonia Seroprevalence and TMEM154 Haplotype Frequency
Scientists are looking at a specific gene (TMEM154) that can make some sheep more resistant to OPP. By identifying sheep that are naturally less likely to get sick, farmers can make better breeding decisions to build healthier, more disease-resistant flocks.
B. Brown (PSU)
$16,443
Identification of Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Shedding of Cryptosporidium in Sheep and Goats
This research project is studying how common Cryptosporidium is in sheep and goats and what factors make it more likely to spread. By identifying what increases the risk of infection, researchers can help farmers develop better prevention and management strategies.
D. Simeone (UPenn)
$29,535
Novel Poxvirus-based Vaccine Against Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus
This research is developing a new and improved vaccine to protect chickens from infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). A better vaccine means healthier chickens, fewer disease outbreaks and less need for antibiotics.
M. Martin (PSU)
$49,996
RT-rPCR Detection of Avian Metapneumovirus Subgroups A, B and C
Better, more precise testing means farmers can detect infections earlier, respond faster, and improve biosecurity measures against avian metapneumovirus (aMPV).
A. Eman (UPenn)
$30,000
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Avian Metapneumovirus in PA
Scientists are working to isolate the virus from infected birds in Pennsylvania and analyze its genetic makeup to understand which strains are present, how the virus is spreading, and how it might be changing over time.
M. Martin (PSU)