The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, in cooperation with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will be surveying crop producers to measure the impact feral swine have on their crops and livestock. Approximately 10,000 farmers across 11 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas) will hear from NASS interviewers.
According to the USDA, the survey asks crop producers if they’ve noticed feral swine around their crops and livestock and if any of the crop damage or livestock losses are attributed to feral swine. Several questions also focus on control methods producers use to address their feral swine problems. This is the first step toward gaining a better understanding of the extent of feral swine damage, which will allow USDA agencies to devise efforts to combat this problem. Future efforts will focus specifically on livestock producers and their problems with feral swine.
