By Gary Joiner
TFB Radio Network Manager
A Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) proposal to designate any pesticide containing the active ingredient warfarin as a feral hog toxicant as a “State-Limited-Use” product was the subject of a state public hearing today at the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Conference and Training Center.
The TDA proposal is made pursuant to Chapter 76 of the Texas Agriculture Code, which provides the TDA with the authority to adopt rules related to provisions necessary for compliance with pesticide and herbicide regulations. The agency said the amendments propose to require licensure of applicators and distributors of warfarin, only when used as a feral hog toxicant, to ensure proper sales, use and compliance by trained individuals and to address the risk of potential misapplication or distribution resulting in possible secondary exposure to humans or non-target animals.
TDA Assistant General Counsel Jessica Escobar told hearing attendees that the agency is seeking to impose stricter regulations than those approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by designating the product as a “State-Limited-Use” product. EPA approved the product with classification as “general use,” without restrictions on the sale or purchase of the product by members of the public.
In order to distribute a “State-Limited-Use” pesticide, a dealer is required to hold a pesticide dealer’s license, issued by TDA. A person may not purchase or use a “State-Limited-Use” pesticide, unless licensed as a pesticide applicator, or under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator.
Dane Elliott, chairman of the TFB Feral Hog Issues Advisory Committee, testified in support of the proposed rule on behalf of himself and the organization. Despite using every management tool available, Elliott said the extensive damage caused by feral hogs has driven him out of row crop farming in Bee County. He now focuses on raising cattle, although feral hogs still plague his pastures.
“Texas Farm Bureau feral hog policy supports funding for any research or program to control and/or eliminate feral hogs. We are open to new ideas that show promise, but time is short on a problem that has reached a critical stage for the agricultural community,” said Elliott. “People are being forced to change their way of life. If this product had come out 10 years ago, I would probably be on a tractor right now. Unfortunately, that’s not an option anymore.”
In addition to the public hearing, TDA is accepting public comments on the proposed rule until May 14, 2017, via email or mail. Details can be found here.
Warfarin doesn’t act immediately to kill the hog. iI a hunter were to shoot one that just ingested the warfarin and then eats the meat it would be a death sentence for the hunter. I believe if we raised the price on live trapped hogs we would quickly see them eliminated. The meat is typically sold to Europe as a delicacy. It is also a delicacy here and is sold for more money than domestic pork. The slaughter plants that buy the feral hogs are the ones making a huge profit on the purchase of these hogs. The trappers make about $40 for a 200 lb. hog and about $15 for a 50 lb. hog.
Those are some astonishing alternative facts. A baited pig would turn blue on the inside. Any good hunter will inspect the organs before processing any dead animal for consumption. Even if it’s a Feral hog. That European delicacy story is heavily oversold too. The minority of dead hogs in Texas are slaughtered and sold for meat. Besides – that stuff is mostly riddled with disease. I just heard of a persons dog having to be put to sleep because it contracted brucellosis from a wild pig it was fighting. Terrible. These pigs are an invasive species, they are destroying our natural resources daily and Texas needs this tool to help save our lands and ecosystems.
If someone wants to sell hogs, go into business, buy you some land and charge whatever price you can get. Right now you’re harvesting pests raise on other people’s property and you could care less about the damage they do.
I guarantee you if hogs were to invade River Oaks or Highland Park or downtown Austin we would see anything short of dynamite being approved and encouraged.
Warfarin is a Pandora’s box that, once opened, is going to cause more problems than you can imagine. Who is profiting, literally, from this., don’t be led down the garden path by the politicians
I think a birth control method would be the best answer. If one litter was “aborted” and hunting increased, things may get under control. why do we always wait till it is an emergency to act? always a knee jerk reaction with no regard for the consequences. I have watched the fire ants take over this state, spend $$$$$ there.