STANTON, Mich. — Montcalm County Farm Bureau members believe there is no room for Russian boar in Michigan.

During their recent annual meeting, members approved a policy that calls for the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) to pursue action making it illegal to possess or transport these animals.

Lisa Johnson, chair of the county Farm Bureau’s Policy Development Commit-tee, said while the animals have been declared an invasive species in Michigan, several game ranches have imported Russian Boar into the state for the purpose of hunting them.

“Unfortunately, some of these animals have managed to escape captivity and are now in the process of populating the surrounding countryside,” she said.

“There is no agency that currently has jurisdiction over the inter- and intrastate transportation of these animals, and they are possible sources of disease that could devastate the swine industry in Michigan.”

Greg Heinze, a swine producer from Six Lakes, supports the policy. “This is an invasive species issue,” he said. “They are wild. They’re no good for eating. They have no use except for hunting.”

Heinze said producers “are concerned these animals will get out in the wild and spread diseases. We don’t want them spreading their diseases to domestic hogs.”

The problem dates back several years. In 2006, officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced a week before the firearms deer hunting season that hunters with a valid hunting license of any kind were encouraged to shoot feral swine in 23 Michigan counties.

At the time, officials cited disease as one of the primary reasons they were eager to eliminate the state’s feral swine. In addition, the animals are known to be aggressive toward humans and other animals and to be destructive to their surroundings.

All total, county Farm Bureau members approved 22 resolutions during their annual meeting that will be forwarded to the MFB Policy Development Committee.

The committee will select those to be considered at the MFB Annual Meeting Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Grand Rapids.

Other county resolutions include: agricultural promotion and education initiatives, construction of the new Montcalm County 4-H Fairgrounds, funding for Michigan State University extension and the state’s 4-H program, forest management, dog licenses, fair funding, deer baiting, Michigan Natural Resources Conservation Districts, drivers’ licenses for tractor drivers, copper and scrap metal theft, wind energy, delinquent property taxes, Michigan Right to Farm, non-ambulatory bovines, “legal standing” for animals, anti-trust, trade prosecutor and rules for determining electoral districts.