
Agricultural News
USDA to gather data on Feral Swine Damage to Livestock Operations
Wed, 04 Aug 2021 08:15:14 CDT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting a Feral Swine Livestock Damage survey to
measure the costs of feral swine damage to livestock operations. The survey is conducted in
cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - Wildlife
Services.
"Completing your survey will help us understand the impact that feral swine or wild hogs
have on livestock operations across Oklahoma," said Troy Marshall NASS Oklahoma
Statistician. "The data that farm operators provide through this survey help provide a foundation
for feral swine research." Over 18,000 farms and ranches are being surveyed in Alabama,
Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
"Feral Swine continues to be an ongoing topic in Oklahoma," said Oklahoma Department
of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. "Your
responses will help quantify the damage our Oklahoma Livestock Producers see from feral
swine."
ODAFF continues to partner with APHIS Wildlife Services to control feral swine
populations in Oklahoma. "In our Farm Bill Pilot Program, Oklahoma has eliminated over 14,000
feral swine in the targeted nine counties in 2 years," said Scott Alls APHIS Wildlife Services
Oklahoma Director.
To protect the health of producers, partners, and employees, NASS has suspended inperson
interviews. Survey respondents are asked to complete their questionnaire online at
agcounts.usda.gov or return it by mail. Alternatively, trained enumerators will follow-up with
producers to collect the data by phone starting August 5th.
The USDA APHIS National Wildlife Research Center states that feral swine exist in at
least 35 states, and the nationwide population is estimated at approximately 5 million animals.
Feral swine damage pastures, agricultural crops, lawns, landscaping, and natural areas, due to
feeding, rooting, wallowing, grazing, and trampling activities. Feral swine are reservoirs of many
diseases and act as a host to parasites that can negatively impact agricultural animals,
especially domesticated swine.
APHIS will analyze these data as a baseline for future studies and any published
information will be made available to the public through the APHIS Feral Swine Resources
website: aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/feral-swine/feral-swine-resources.
The information provided by producers will be used for statistical purposes only. In
accordance with federal law, survey responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed
in identifiable form.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Oklahoma Field
Office at 1-800-626-3142.
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