New federal investment expands coordinated feral swine control efforts as invasive populations continue to threaten agricultural operations, natural resources and livestock health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $51.9 million to 29 partnership projects across 13 states, expanding efforts to control feral swine populations and reduce the damage these invasive animals cause to American agriculture.
The funding, announced November 3, forms part of a broader $105 million federal investment in the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, bringing together USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), state agencies and local agricultural partners.
For the pork industry, the initiative carries significance beyond crop and property damage. Feral swine can carry diseases affecting domestic pigs, creating additional challenges for herd health protection, disease surveillance and biosecurity.
A Growing Agricultural and Economic Threat
Feral swine remain one of the most destructive invasive species affecting American agricultural landscapes.
According to USDA APHIS, feral swine cause at least $3.4 billion in damage annually across the United States, affecting agricultural production, natural resources and property.
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