Understanding USDA Biosecurity Audits and Assessments: What’s Required, What’s Different, and How Cost Share Funding Works
Change is difficult. Dealing with HPAI is difficult. Preparing your farm and employees for HPAI prevention doesn’t have to be. As avian influenza continues to affect Minnesota’s turkey industry, growers must continue learning about changing audit requirements and utilizing voluntary assessment programs that provide a “second set of eyes” to evaluate biosecurity practices when disease pressure is lower.
Our goal over the past few months has been to help members wade through the government audit and assessment “alphabet soup”—BCAP, BIFA, and WBA— and learn how each program plays a distinct role in protecting farms and supporting indemnity eligibility.
Here’s a breakdown of what each program involves, what’s required, and how cost share funding works.
1. BCAP – Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (Mandatory)
Purpose: The Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (BCAP) is the mandatory audit required by USDA for any farm that wants to restock after an HPAI infection or place birds inside a Buffer Zone (the 3–10 km zone around an infected site). Passing a BCAP audit is also tied to eligibility for indemnity.
What’s Required:
Biosecurity Plan Review: A full check of your written biosecurity plan, policies, and procedures against USDA’s audit tool; every item must pass.
Farm-Specific Documents Review: Training logs, movement certificates, flock production records, visitor logbooks and other paperwork.
On-Site Visual Verification: Verifies the implementation of the biosecurity plan and procedures to ensure they match your biosecurity plan. Conducted remotely for buffer zone placements and in-person for restocking infected premises.
How Often: The BCAP audit is valid for 6 months.
Infected sites will need a BCAP audit every 6 months until the state declares freedom from HPAI in “poultry” (WOAH poultry definition).
Non-infected sites placed in a control area within the six-month window after completing a BCAP or BIFA audit do not need to complete another audit.
Who Conducts the Audit: A local auditing team consisting of USDA-trained auditors and a federal Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) for final review.
Cost-Share Funding: No cost-share; producers are responsible for compliance.
2. BIFA – Biosecurity Incentive-Focused Assessment (Voluntary, with Cost-Share)
Purpose: The Biosecurity Incentive-Focused Assessment (BIFA) is a voluntary assessment that uses the same audit tool as BCAP with the potential for added USDA funding support. Completing BIFA ahead of HPAI disease pressure allows a farm to lock in six months of BCAP compliance, avoiding delays if a control zone is declared.
What’s Required:
Same three-part audit as BCAP (biosecurity plan and documents review, and visual verification).
Any deficiencies must be corrected before compliance is granted.
Who Can Participate: Commercial farms with more than 500 birds.
Cost Share Funding:
USDA covers up to 75% of the cost of approved biosecurity improvements identified by the assessment.
Producer covers the remaining 25%.
Maximum reimbursement is $2,500–$25,000, depending on flock size.
Payments are made after corrective actions are completed and verified.
Bottom Line: BIFA not only prepares you for BCAP—it also helps pay for the improvements you need to pass.
Purpose: The Wildlife Biosecurity Assessment (WBA) is a voluntary program run by USDA Wildlife Services. It is not tied directly to indemnity or BCAP requirements, but it identifies and helps mitigate the wildlife-related risks that often open the door to HPAI exposure.
What’s Involved:
On-Farm Hazard Assessment: Inspecting barns, feed areas, and property for gaps, holes, or attractants.
Wildlife Surveys: Daytime bird surveys and nighttime mammal surveys using thermal equipment.
Direct Control: Options for non-lethal (lasers and/or hazing) and lethal (trapping and/or shooting) control if needed.
Cost: Free if farms work to mitigate identified hazards. If no recommended remediations are made after about three months, USDA may pause free visits; services can continue at cost.
Value: While WBA does not replace BCAP or BIFA, it provides critical support in addressing structural and environmental risks, and many of its findings can feed into a stronger biosecurity plan for audits.
Key Differences at a Glance:
BCAP: Mandatory if you’re in a buffer zone or restocking; no cost-share; required for indemnity.
BIFA: Voluntary but highly recommended; same tool as BCAP; USDA cost-shares up to 75% of improvements; grants six months of compliance.
WBA: Voluntary and wildlife-focused; free if hazards are addressed; not tied directly to indemnity but strengthens biosecurity overall.
To request a BIFA or a WBA, email poultry.biosecurity@usda.gov or call 844-820-2234. To help expedite the intake of your request, have the following information prepared when you email or call USDA:
Premises name
Premises ID
Premises 911 street address (the actual location of your flock)
Premises city, State, and zip code
Premises coordinates (decimal degree format, if known)
Production type
Requestor’s name, phone number, and email address
If you’re in a control area, BCAP is unavoidable. Proactive completion of BIFA now ensures you’re both compliant and eligible for funding support before you’re placed in a buffer zone. Requesting a WBA adds another tool for HPAI prevention, assessing and addressing wildlife risks that could compromise your farm. Together, these programs provide invaluable tools to help Minnesota turkey growers stay ahead of disease risks.
