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The latest news about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Montana.

Import Requirements Apply To Pigs Brought From Other States

Pigs peeking out of a pen.
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The Montana Department of Agriculture reports an influx of domestic pigs coming from Midwestern states where major processing plants are closed down due to COVID-19. Officials are reminding anyone buying pigs about livestock import requirements.

Major Midwest pork producers have been left with few options for selling their pigs. The Department of Ag says Montanans are beginning to buy some of those animals through unconventional channels. The department is reminding buyers of import requirements such as obtaining health certificates, import permits and identification tags.

Ag officials are also asking first-time buyers to be prepared to properly fence in pigs not immediately destined for a local slaughter house. Domestic pigs can quickly revert to a feral state if they escape, the state agency said. The department began a public campaign last year to increase awareness about its efforts to prevent the spread of feral swine, which can cause millions of dollars in crop and property damage, into the state.

Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.
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