Rules established on pesticide use in fight with feral hogs

The Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) has approved an amendment to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture rules on pesticide use, establishing requirements for the use of warfarin-based bait products labeled for the control of feral hogs. 

The amended rule went into effect in late June.

The rule creates a new Class J pesticide classification for all pesticides containing warfarin when used as a feral hog toxicant. These requirements apply in addition to the federal product label and govern when, where, and by whom such products may be used in Arkansas.

The effective date of the rule does not authorize immediate sale or use of feral hog toxicants in Arkansas. Before a specific product may be sold or used in Arkansas, the product must be registered by the Arkansas State Plant Board, which administers pesticide registration through the Department of Agriculture. 

That registration is a separate step that has not yet occurred. Feral hog toxicants are a restricted-use product that may be sold only by licensed restricted-use pesticide dealers, and only to licensed applicators who have completed the required product-specific training.

Products must be used strictly in accordance with their U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved product label. Under federal law, it is a violation to use the product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.

Use is prohibited in any county where black bears have been harvested since 2023, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Black Bear Harvest Report. In all other counties, use is prohibited from April 1 through November 30. Use is therefore allowed only from December 1 through March 31.