Photo Provided by: University of Florida

Funding from the Department of Agriculture will help landowners control feral hogs. USDA Thursday announced $75 million in funding for the eradication and control of feral swine through the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program.

The 2018 Farm Bill included the new pilot program to help address the threat feral swine pose to agriculture. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will direct up to $33.75 million of the allocated funds toward partnership efforts to work with landowners in approved areas.

Pilot projects will consist broadly of three coordinated components, including feral swine removal by APHIS, restoration efforts supported by NRCS, and assistance to producers for feral swine control provided through partnership agreements with non-federal partners.

Applications are being accepted through August 19, 2019 for select states. Eligible states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. APHIS has determined these states have among the highest feral swine population densities and associated damages.