U.S. Senator Katie Britt Applauds $35 Million Announcement from USDA to Combat Feral Swine Secured Through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) celebrated the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) making $35 million available for partnerships to respond to the threat feral swine pose to American agriculture, landscapes, and human and livestock health. This investment was made possible by a broader $105 million investment in the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, which was included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and championed by Senator Britt. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will use this investment to work together with state partners to combat one of the most devastating pests in agriculture.

"Alabama farmers and cattlemen know firsthand the havoc these invasive species wreak on their farms, inflicting billions of dollars in damage nationally and directly endangering their livelihoods," said Senator Britt. "I was proud to champion the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program in the Working Family Tax Cuts Act to respond to this threat, and I'm encouraged to see USDA put this investment to work. I'll continue fighting to ensure Alabama has the tools and resources it needs to protect our agricultural economy, conserve our natural resources, and ensure the lands that sustain our families and communities remain strong for generations to come."

Feral swine inhabit all 67 counties in Alabama, causing $50 million in agricultural and ecological damage in the state annually. They are an invasive, highly destructive species and are classified in the state as a nuisance animal. Feral swine can have significant negative impacts on plant and wildlife habitats, soils, water quality, as well as other natural resources. Livestock and humans are also susceptible to diseases carried by feral swine.

The USDA's Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program will provide landowner assistance for restoration and on-farm trapping efforts and provide related services, like training. Funding for these services will be provided through grant agreements between partners and NRCS.

"We are collaborating with our partners at USDA and across the country to help combat feral swine and keep our farms, ranches and landscapes safe," said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. "These invasive species cause more than $3.4 billion in damage each year, including damage to agricultural landscapes. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, NRCS is able to expand this effort, giving producers and partners more resources to protect working lands and strengthen the long-term resilience of agricultural operations."

Senator Britt was proud to fight for the inclusion of the largest long-term investment in NRCS conservation programs in decades, including support for this program, in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. It continued the program for another five years with the $105 million total investment split between NRCS and APHIS, including the $35 million made available through this announcement. She has previously introduced the Feral Swine Eradication Act, which would extend and make permanent a program to safeguard against the threat of feral swine.

###