Farm Bureau Aids Hog Bounty Program

Fayette County Farm Bureau presented a $15,000 donation to the Fayette County feral hog abatement program at the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, Oct. 14. Pictured are (back, from left) Fayette County AgriLife Extension Agent Scott Willey, Fayette County Farm Bureau president Donnie Dippel, Fayette County Farm Bureau secretary Mike Dittrich, (front) Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann, Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff, County Judge Joe Weber, Pct. 2 Commissioner Luke Sternadel and Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom. Photo by Andy Behlen

Fayette County Farm Bureau presented a $15,000 donation to Fayette County’s feral hog abatement program at the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday.

“Each year, we look at how we can help agriculture in our county,” said Fayette County Farm Bureau president Donnie Dippel. “The one thing that more people come in and tell us about is what the hogs are doing in this county. (Fayette County) has this program started, and we felt that we could join with y’all in this program and help a little bit. They’re like fire ants - I don’t think we’ll ever get rid of them, but maybe we can slow them down.”

Feral hogs cause millions of dollars in damage to cropland and pastures each year in Fayette County. Fayette County offers a $5 bounty for feral hogs. In addition, the County sponsors two contests each year that awards prize money to hunters. Those programs aim at controlling feral hog populations.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said he knows of one farmer who loses $30,000 to $40,000 a year to crop damage from hogs.

“I heard one farmer say the first 20 rows of his corn crop goes to the hogs,” said Fayette County Farm Bureau secretary Mike Dittrich.

“We’ve worked in pastures where there are places (hogs) have tore up so bad that you can’t run a tractor through it,” Dippel said.

“It’s not only affecting farmers and ranchers,” said Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff. “Out in the Muldoon and Cistern area, they root up the county ditches all up to the road. Our guys have to shred over that and bounce over it.

“I’d like to know the numbers from insurance companies for vehicles that hit hogs,” Berckenhoff added. “They do a lot of damage to cars.”

Scott Willey, AgriLife Extension Agent for Fayette County, said Fayette County Farm Bureau has given prize money to the county-sponsored contests for several years.

“Their contribution to Fayette County for hog abatement is nothing new,” Willey said.