Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Animal Industry

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What is the purpose of the division?

The Division of Animal Industry is responsible for enforcing animal health regulations in Florida and protecting the state from animal pests and diseases, which could have major economic and public health consequences. The division director serves as the State Veterinarian and is responsible for the department's animal disease control and prevention efforts, which include investigating outbreaks, providing laboratory diagnostics, and containing the spread of animal diseases. The division serves as the lead agency for animal and agricultural issues under Florida's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, meaning they plan and coordinate the state's response to emergencies ranging from natural disasters to animal disease outbreaks as a part of the State Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Support Function 17.

How is the division organized?

The Division of Animal Industry has two bureaus.

Bureau of Animal Disease Control (BADC) administers Florida's animal disease control and eradication programs. In cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the bureau protects the state from animal pests and diseases, which could have major economic and public health consequences.
Bureau of Diagnostic Laboratories-Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) provides scientific expertise in the detection and investigation of animal diseases that affect human and animal health. The BADDL is located in Kissimmee.

What are some of the measures of division activities?

In Fiscal Year 2018-2019 the division conducted 11,919 animal site inspections, which includes any location where animals have been, are, or may be maintained. The number of inspections declined from the previous fiscal years due to the division's emergency response to Hurricane Michael.
In Fiscal Year 2018-2019, the BADDL conducted more than 86,110 tests as a key instrument in the surveillance, detection, and control of livestock diseases throughout the state.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2020-21

	Fund	Salary Rate/ Position	General Revenue	Trust Funds
SALARY RATE		5,527,990
POSITIONS		115.00
SALARIES AND BENEFITS
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			6,233,459
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			492,891
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			548,362
	FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND			500,730
OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			12,104
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			148,472
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			68,162
EXPENSES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			365,981
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			478,164
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			628,888
	FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND			125,157
OPERATING CAPITAL OUTLAY
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			50,949
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			56,000
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
STATE AGRICULTURAL RESPONSE TEAM (SART)
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			300,000
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
CONTRACTED SERVICES
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			399,215
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			323,958
	FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND			20,000
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
DOMESTIC SECURITY
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			112,898
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			54,330
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			52,864
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
TRANSFER TO DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES - HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES PURCHASED PER STATEWIDE CONTRACT
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			36,700
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			5,020
	FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND			330
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
GRANTS AND AIDS - MAJOR DISASTERS 2012 - STATE OPERATIONS
	FROM GENERAL INSPECTION TRUST FUND			306,447
TOTAL			7,053,523	4,267,558

Source: www.transparencyflorida.gov

Updates

Animal Disease Monitoring. In Fiscal Year 2018-19, the division pursued 213 investigations of emerging animal diseases including Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Equine Viral Arteritis, Mycoplasmosis, pseudorabies, screwworm and Strangles. The division is continuing to monitor and conduct surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease in cervids.

The division has applied and received a Farm Bill grant to participate with the Southern Animal Health Association and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services to conduct a joint Functional Exercise entitled Foreign Animal Disease Southern Agriculture Function Exercise. This exercise is a follow-up to a May 2018 exercise. The grant-funded event will take place in 2021 due to delays caused by COVID-19 and will involve multiple industry partners and stakeholders to discuss key issues surrounding a significant animal disease outbreak response within our state. The division's website provides Floridians with additional information on a range of animal disease threats.

Emergency Support Function Response for Hurricane Michael. The division is responsible for the operation and support of the State Emergency Operation Center, Animal and Agriculture. During Fiscal Year 2018-19, the division spent more than 12,000 hours educating, preparing, and responding to a massive statewide natural disaster, Hurricane Michael. The division as well as the State Agricultural Response Team (SART) conducted more than 250 damage assessments, assessed more than 31,000 animals, and coordinated the distribution of supplies to the areas that were impacted by Hurricane Michael. The Division provided key assistance, with the coordination of the apiary community, to preserve the bees in the Panhandle that produce Tupelo honey. There were more than 500 beekeepers impacted and 50,000 hives totaling 1.5 billion bees at risk of starvation due to the foliage and flowers that were devastated by the category five hurricane. The Division coordinated a response with SART partners to provide distribution points for more than 35,000 gallons of a carbohydrate source and more than 38,000 pounds of bee pollen as the protein source to save the Panhandle bees.

The Bronson Animal Diagnostic Laboratory Infrastructure Improvements. In Fiscal Year 2018-19, the division completed construction of the new modern testing facility in Kissimmee. The benefits of the new laboratory include open and integrated laboratory space, increased biosafety, enhanced testing capabilities and a functional design. In addition, the division has received funding to renovate the HVAC system and laboratory controls in the Bio-Safety Level 3 laboratory. The architect and design for the space has been completed. This project includes replacing outdated equipment and expects it will result in reduced operational costs. The project is anticipated to be completed at the end of the calendar year of 2020.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Health, Animal Contact and Human Health.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Surveillance for Wild Bird Die-Offs
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Disease Information
COVID-19 and Animals, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Chapters 585, 570, 535, and 534, and ss. 823.04, 823.041, and 20.14, Florida Statutes.

Whom do I contact for help?

Division of Animal Industry, 850-410-0900

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