LANSING – The Michigan Pork Producers Association Tuesday called on the Legislature to let stand a state order declaring feral swine an invasive species — an essential step in banning the destructive and dangerous invaders.
MPPA also called on the Legislature to reject any attempt to weaken the order by passing so-called “regulations,” which do not work against invasive species, whether feral swine or Asian carp.
“Feral swine endangers Michigan’s pork industry and the thousands of people who depend on it for their livelihoods. Michigan must crack down hard on feral swine. Michigan’s 2,100 pork producers are vital contributors to the economy and significant employers in local communities across the state. Michigan must put our local, homegrown pork sector, which employs thousands of people, ahead of imported, non-native animals that only put our agriculture economy in danger,” MPPA Executive Vice President Sam Hines said.
Imported animals such as Russian and Eurasian boars and razorbacks have escaped from sport shooting facilities, contributing to the explosion of Michigan’s feral swine population.
Feral swine are vectors for transmitting diseases and are notoriously destructive to private property, farms and crops.
Wild hogs have been killed or identified in 69 of Michigan’s 83 counties and experts estimate up to 5,000 wild hogs may now inhabit Michigan.
The pork industry is a major contributor to Michigan’s agricultural economy, generating more than $250 million annually in sales and supporting more than $500 million of gross state product in activities created by the industry.
Michigan’s 2,100 pork producers market more than 2 million hogs per year and, according to an Iowa State University Study, create 5,300 pork-related jobs for the state, many of them the result of pork exports.
About 25 percent of the hogs raised in Michigan and the United States are currently being exported in the form of fresh and processed pork products.
According to the ISU economic impact study, an additional 700 jobs and $30 million of personal income are generated for Michigan alone from exports of Michigan-grown pork.
A pseudorabies outbreak could potentially block Michigan pork from the export market, which would devastate Michigan’s economy.
According to an independent House Fiscal Agency analysis, regulatory monitoring of deer and elk hunting facilities in Michigan cost more than $1.3 million in 2009, while fees for such facilities only generated $106,640.
The HFA analysis links cervid operations with the importation of non-native animals such as Russian boars, razorbacks, Eurasian boars and others into Michigan hunt clubs, spawning the feral swine epidemic in Michigan.
The analysis also says taxpayers pay for the destruction of diseased captive animals.
In 2008, so-called “game swine” were forced to be destroyed at five ranches in Michigan after the discovery of pseudorabies infections, at a cost of $415,000 to Michigan taxpayers, according to a House Fiscal Agency document dated June 25, 2008.