BATON ROUGE — The federal government is spending millions to fight feral hog populations across 13 states, including Louisiana. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded nearly $52 million to 29 projects across much of the southeastern part of the country, plus California. 

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will get $3 million, according to The Advocate. The USDA said that money will be spent on surveillance and trapping methods, natural resource damage assessments and hog removal operations spanning 16.6 million acres across 27 parishes. Officials also hope to get more landowners involved in the feral hog fight through education and field-based training. 

Feral hogs have long plagued Louisiana's farmers and ecosystems. They negatively impact plant and wildlife habitats, soil, water quality and other natural resources, according to the USDA. They also carry diseases that can infect livestock and humans. 

The $51.9 million in funding announced in November is part of the federal department's broader $109 million investment into its Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program.