The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $35 million in new funding to support partnerships aimed at reducing the growing threat posed by feral swine to U.S. agriculture, natural resources, and animal health.
The funding is part of a broader $105 million investment through the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, a collaborative initiative between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Feral swine continue to create significant challenges for producers across the United States by damaging cropland, pastures, and natural ecosystems while also increasing the risk of disease transmission to domestic livestock. USDA estimates these invasive animals are responsible for more than $3.4 billion in economic damage annually.
“We are collaborating with our partners at USDA and across the country to help combat feral swine and keep our farms, ranches and landscapes safe,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “These invasive species cause more than $3.4 billion in damage each year, including damage to agricultural landscapes. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, NRCS is able to expand this effort, giving producers and partners more resources to protect working lands and strengthen the long-term resilience of agricultural operations.”
The new funding will support collaborative, locally led projects that help prevent, control, and reduce feral swine populations while protecting agricultural production and improving long-term resilience for farmers and ranchers.
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