Feral Swine Partners Begin To Improve Georgia’s Natural Resources
By Terrance O. Rudolph, State Conservationist
While most of the world is rightfully focused on other more notable health and economic challenges, there are some other environmental and health challenges that are being tackled by a group of conservation minded federal, state, local and private organizations in southwest Georgia.
The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (FSCP) is being implemented in Georgia through a collaboration with the Feral Swine Partnership, and will help USDA agencies such as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) respond to the threats that feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, as well as human and animal health.
With Farm Bill funding provided through a partnership agreement with the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA-NRCS, an effort focused around the Albany, Georgia region began recently to gain and maintain a level of control of the population that reduces their impact on crops and the environment. Once effective outreach and population controls have been reached by the partnering groups, currently expected to be around year three of the program, USDA-NRCS will work voluntarily with producers to complete restoration activities utilizing the long-standing best management practices. All restoration activities within the project area will be developed through our conservation planning process.
USDA-NRCS is excited to be a part of this partnership because these staged efforts are necessary and critical to our mission to “deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world,” and our vision to ultimately provide “a world of clean and abundant water, healthy soils, resilient landscapes, and thriving agricultural communities through voluntary conservation.”
Feral swine rooting behavior not only uproots crops, but it also destroys native vegetation, can cause erosion, and potentially deposit fecal matter in water bodies that can impact water quality. The increasing numbers of feral swine also present a growing challenge to threatened, endangered and state significant species of plants and animals by destroying critical habitat and out competing native animals for food, water and space resources. Reducing the amount of feral swine and then later utilizing the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has the potential to improve water quality, restore habitat, and protect agriculture products.
During the later stages of this project, producers within the focal area will be able to voluntarily apply for financial assistance, through EQIP, to restore habitat and address resource concerns already discussed. We anticipate providing assistance to restore degraded streambanks, establishing and repairing riparian buffers, provide critical area planting or re-establish wildlife, pasture and forest habitat. With the restoration of the land and resources in the focal area, we expect to see improvements to habitats and water quality, while also helping the local agricultural economy.
For additional information about EQIP, contact your local service center. USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with NRCS, Farm Service Agency, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.