“To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the feral swine eradication and control program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a feral swine eradication and control program under the Food Security Act of 1985 to respond to threats feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health. In carrying out the program, the Secretary of Agriculture must (1) study and assess damage caused by feral swine in threatened areas (i.e., areas determined by the Secretary to be at risk); (2) develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine and restore damage; and (3) provide financial assistance to agricultural producers to implement such methods, with the federal share not to exceed 75% of total costs (non-federal share may include in-kind contributions). The Natural Resources Conservation Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service must coordinate through state technical committees and contract with eligible land-grant colleges or universities (as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103)—which are required to have a feral swine damage evaluation system, a strong relationship with APHIS Wildlife Services, and a state-funded Wildlife Services program—for research, education, and assistance in program implementation. Of $150 million in mandatory funding available for FY2026 through 2030 from funds under section 1241(a)(3)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985, 40% is allocated to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (including producer assistance for on-farm trapping and technology) and 60% to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (including established and innovative population reduction methods), with no more than 10% for administrative expenses. This section also repeals section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (a prior feral swine control pilot program authority) and makes a conforming clerical amendment.