Press Release - Draft

NEWS RELEASE

United States Department of Agriculture

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

[FIELD OFFICE NAME] FIELD OFFICE

[ADDRESS]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: [Firstname] [Lastname]
	(XXX) XXX-XXXX

USDA to gather data on feral swine damage to livestock operations

[CITY, STATE] – [Month ##], [Year] -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting a survey to measure the costs of feral swine damage to livestock operations. The survey is conducted with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Operations who have received this survey should complete their survey by August 5.

“Completing your survey will help us understand the impact that feral swine or wild hogs have to livestock operations across the country,” said (First Name Last Name), [Director of the NASS (Region) Field Office]/[NASS [State] Statistician]. “The data that farm operators provide through this survey helps 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 and safety of producers, partners, and employees, NASS has suspended in-person interviews. Survey respondents can complete the questionnaire and return it by mail or complete it online at agcounts.usda.gov. Alternatively, a trained enumerator will follow up 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.

Results from this survey will be published by the National Wildlife Research Center, and available on their website by the end of the fiscal year. The information provided 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 about research related to this survey, visit aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/feral-swine/feral-swine-resources.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS (State) Field Office at (Toll-free Number).

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NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.

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