Minnesota Funds 13 Farm Disease Research Projects

Livestock producers across Minnesota can expect new research on swine disease and dairy labor as $2.6 million flows to 13 projects.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Veterinary Medicine

Bold vector editorial illustration of a weathered red barn beside a metal silo on flat farmland, representing Minnesota agricultural research. — The Minnesota Rapid Agricultural Response Fund awarded $2.6 million to 13 University of Minnesota projects on swine disease, dairy labor, and turkey bacteria. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine received funding for 13 projects through the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund, with $2.6 million in awards for the 2024-25 biennium. The projects address dairy labor, PRRS in swine, Streptococcus gallolyticus in turkeys, and swine influenza, affecting Minnesota's agriculture and livestock operations.

Why it matters

The fund exists to enable rapid responses to urgent problems in Minnesota's agriculture and natural resource industries, and limited farm workforce availability is a major challenge for the dairy industry. Researchers are targeting disease threats that have already caused large outbreaks in Minnesota swine herds, which matters for farm costs and food supply across the state.

The $2.6 million in 2024-25 biennium awards went to 13 projects chosen through a competitive proposal process. The funded work covers dairy labor, PRRS in swine, Streptococcus gallolyticus in turkeys, and swine influenza.

The players

University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

The state university's veterinary college leads several funded projects on livestock disease and herd health across Minnesota farms.

Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station

The university-based research body that administers the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund for Minnesota agriculture.

The details

The Rapid Agricultural Response Fund is coordinated under the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in partnership with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, the College of Education and Human Development, and the Veterinary Medicine college, with support from University of Minnesota Extension. Projects were selected through a competitive proposal process. A new PRRS variant, PRRS 1-4-4 L1C, emerged in late 2020 and caused massive outbreaks in Minnesota swine, and one PRRS study aims to give producers information to lower outbreak risk.

1998: The Minnesota Legislature originally authorized the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund.
Late 2020: A new PRRS variant emerged and caused massive outbreaks in Minnesota swine.
2024-25 biennium: The fund awarded $2.6 million to 13 projects.
October and November: Minnesota pig producers face a significantly higher probability of PRRS outbreaks.

The Home Front

The fund was authorized by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1998 to respond quickly to urgent problems in the state's agriculture and natural resource industries. These 2024-25 awards apply that mandate to disease and labor pressures on Minnesota farms.

If you keep livestock or pets, ask your veterinarian about current PRRS and swine influenza precautions, especially heading into October and November when outbreak risk rises. Anyone with farm animals should work with a licensed veterinarian on herd health planning rather than relying on general guidance.

The takeaway

Minnesota's rapid-response agricultural fund is funding 13 projects that target disease and labor pressures on farms across the state. If you work with livestock, schedule a herd health review with your veterinarian before the fall outbreak window.