The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making $35 million available for projects aimed at reducing feral swine damage on agricultural lands, with Florida among the states eligible to receive funding.
The money will be awarded through the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, a joint effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The funding is part of a broader $105 million investment to continue the program for another five years.
USDA said feral swine cause more than $3.4 billion in damage each year, including harm to farms, ranches, soil, water quality, wildlife habitat and other natural resources. The animals also can carry diseases that threaten livestock and people.
Florida is one of 14 states where partners may apply for funding, along with Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Selected partners will work with landowners on restoration, trapping efforts, training and other services.
