By Paul Schattenberg
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a Wild Pig Management Workshop for landowners and the public from 8:15 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 19 in Corsicana.
The workshop will be held in the Large Vernon Room of the Navarro County Exposition Center, 4021 W. Texas Highway 22.
There is no charge to attend, but an optional catered luncheon will be provided for $10. On-site registration will begin at 8:15 a.m.; however, preregistration by Sept. 12 is requested for catering purposes.
“Wild pigs cause an estimated $1.5 billion in agricultural damages alone in the U.S. each year,” said Josh Helcel, AgriLife Extension associate with the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, and one of the workshop speakers. “In addition to their damages to agricultural production, wild pigs contribute bacteria to our water systems, can transmit a number of diseases and negatively impact native species and habitat.”
Workshop topics will include wild pig biology, impacts and control techniques, safety and disease concerns, and wild pig laws and regulations, said Page Bishop, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Navarro County. There also will be a demonstration of wild pig control techniques.
Additional speakers will include Tommy Barton, Ph.D., Texas Animal Health Commission Region 7 director; Adam Henry, Texas Wildlife Services wildlife biologist; and Jimmy Wooley, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden for Navarro County.
Two general and one integrated pest management Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available for private pesticide applicator licensees.
For more information and to register, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Navarro County at 903-654-3075 or page.bishop@ag.tamu.edu.
This event is provided through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
