USDA Shares $2.9 Million for Feral Swine Eradication in Arkansas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $51.9 million to 29 partnership projects in 13 states to combat the threats feral swine pose to agriculture producers. This includes $2.9 million awarded to two projects in Arkansas.
These awards are part of a larger $105 million investment in the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, where USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are collaborating to target feral swine.
“Feral swine pose a threat to America’s working lands, and through this program, we’re bringing together America’s agricultural producers and partners to combat feral swine and protect agricultural landscapes,” said Amanda Mathis, Arkansas State Conservationist. “The selected projects in Arkansas will take critical steps to eradicate and control feral swine.”
Projects were funded in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The funding originates from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, marking the largest long-term investment in NRCS conservation programs in decades.
The AR East Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Project and the AR West Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Project were the two initiatives funded in Arkansas.
Feral swine can have severe negative impacts on plant and wildlife habitats, soils, water quality, and other natural resources. They also pose a risk to livestock and humans by carrying diseases.
Partners selected for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program will offer landowner assistance for restoration and on-farm trapping efforts, providing training and related services through grant agreements with NRCS.
Since 2020, NRCS has invested $92.9 million in 63 projects under the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, assisting over 6,700 landowners on nearly 9 million acres to minimize feral swine damage. Partners have also conducted over 800 events to educate landowners on trapping techniques.