(Little Rock, Ark., Nov. 3, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $51.9 million to 29 partnership projects in 13 states to help partners respond to the threat feral swine pose to American agriculture, landscapes and human and livestock health. This includes $2.9 million awarded to 2 projects in Arkansas. The awarded projects are part of a broader $105 million investment for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, where USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are working together to target feral swine.
“Feral swine pose a threat to America’s working lands, and through this program, we’re bringing together America’s agricultural producers and partners to combat feral swine and protect agricultural landscapes,” said Arkansas State Conservationist Amanda Mathis. “The selected projects in Arkansas will take critical steps to eradicate and control feral swine.”
Projects were awarded in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The funding for the projects was provided by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which delivers the largest long-term investment in NRCS conservation programs in decades.
Selected Projects
The selected projects in Arkansas are:
- AR East Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Project
- AR West Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Project
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 partners selected to participate in the 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.
All projects will be a collaborative and coordinated effort among the selected partner, NRCS and APHIS.
More Information about the Pilot Program
Since 2020, NRCS has invested $92.9 million in 63 projects as part of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. These projects have assisted more than 6,700 landowners on almost 9 million acres to help reduce feral swine damage. Additionally, partners have conducted more than 800 events related to teaching trapping techniques to landowners.
For more information on the program and to find pilot projects, visit NRCS’s Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program webpage.
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, technical assistance and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.
