Federal Program Shows Promise in Controlling Feral Hog Damage
A recent analysis by agricultural economists highlights the effectiveness of a federal program aimed at controlling feral hog numbers, initiated by the 2018 Farm Bill which allocated $75 million for this purpose. This initiative focuses on ten states, including Texas and Florida, and began receiving USDA funding for trapping and land rehabilitation in 2020, with a further $105 million planned through 2029. A new Farm Bill proposal could contribute an additional $150 million by 2031. The study indicates that wildlife damage claims for cornfields in participating areas dropped remarkably from 70 acres to 10, addressing the extensive harm feral hogs have caused.
Key facts
- The federal program funded feral hog trapping in 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
- The program was initially funded with $75 million through the 2018 Farm Bill.
- An additional $105 million was allocated through 2029, with the first $35 million in grants available until Sept. 21, 2026.
- A proposed Farm Bill would increase funding by $150 million and extend the effort through 2031.
- In counties with coordinated hog control, average crop insurance claims for cornfield damage dropped from 70 acres to 10 acres per policy.
- No significant reduction was found for soybeans, wheat, cotton, or peanuts.
- Feral hogs cause $2.5 to $3.4 billion in annual property damage, including at least $800 million in crop destruction.
- Feral hogs roam in 35 states, with an estimated 7 million in 2016, and can double their population in four months.
Entities
Institutions
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- University of Tennessee
- University of Arkansas
- The Conversation
Locations
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Texas