"Texas AgriLife Extension Service estimates that statewide annual economic damage caused by feral hogs is $51.7 million."
That sounds like a fair amount of loss, although I'd bet dollars to donuts it's under-guesstimated.
Then the red tape begins:
"In order to be eligible for a grant, counties will be required to submit a completed Grant Application by November 12, 2010. Participating counties will be required to document the following results for the period of October 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010:
Number of feral hogs taken in the county, as certified by the county.
Number of participants at a TDA-approved education program about feral hog abatement technologies.
Number of acres in the county that landowners will commit, in writing, to allow access by county trappers or Wildlife Services (WS) Specialists for the purpose of removing feral hogs (subject to WS availability)."
Okay, a county trapper is pretty open insofar as who's reasonably known to the county commisioners. But what's a Wildlife Services Specialist? Never heard of such. And I'll again bet dollars to donuts that there's a ton of red tape to get the certification.
Edit-add: I emailed them to asking what is a WSS.
Then we come down to the grant money:
"Based on the criteria above, awards will be made in the form of a grant that the county will be able to use on feral hog abatement related expenditures during the 2011 calendar year. Awards will be made as follows: The highest scoring county will be awarded $25,000; the second highest will be awarded $15,000; and the third highest will be awarded $10,000."
Chump change. Makes for a good press release and maybe a photo op for the Bossman, but it ain't much money.