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Source: USDA, 8/23/21
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. Operators who have
received this survey should complete it by August 5.“Completing your survey will help us understand the impact that feral swine or wild hogs have on livestock operations across the country,” said Dee Webb, Director of the NASS NC Field Office “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. To protect the health of producers, partners,
and employees, NASS has suspended in-person 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. 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 NC Field Office at (919)707--3333.
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