Deer grazing in crop fields and bears wallowing in rows of corn are creating costly headaches for farmers across Southside Virginia.
Farmers in Patrick and Henry counties have grappled with wildlife pressure for decades. But bear and deer damage has worsened in recent years, prompting area farmers to meet with Department of Wildlife Resources officials to discuss the increasing threat to crops.
During the meeting, farmers expressed a need for increased bear and deer harvesting limits and more flexibility on doe hunting, which is key to controlling deer populations.
“The main thing is we want our rifle and shotgun hunting seasons extended,” said Darrell Jackson, a member of the Henry County Farm Bureau board of directors and the person who initially requested the meeting.
Jackson grew crops in Henry County for years and now leases his farmland. He sees farmers struggling to get crops like soybeans established, despite sowing seeds multiple times a year.
“Deer will eat them as soon as they break the ground,” he said.
Jackson explained that bears will enter corn fields when the ears are “soft and green,” and can eat several acres of the crops.
Wildlife pressure increases expenses, and limits what farmers can plant, Jackson said. It’s an issue farmers contend with on top of navigating unpredictable weather, and dealing with volatile commodity prices, high input costs and fluctuating trade policies.
It also creates additional barriers for beginning and young farmers trying to establish or expand their farms.
“There’s no chance if you’ve got to compete with the bear and deer,” Jackson lamented, adding that home gardeners and beekeepers also are facing similar wildlife pressure.
Henry County cattle farmer Darryl Holland said his alfalfa fields have turned into “a salad bar for the deer” with constant grazing reducing forage he depends on to feed his cattle. And while bears don’t affect him directly, he said damage to others’ corn crops “has been substantial.”
“We’re in an area where seeing a bear used to be a novelty,” said Holland, who also serves on Henry Farm Bureau’s board. “But in the last five to six years, they’re becoming more common.”
During the meeting, Jake Tabor, legislative specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, said farmers also raised concerns about inconsistent hunting seasons between Patrick and Henry counties, which can create complications for those farming in multiple locations.
DWR officials also provided insight into how counties, residents and farmers can help change hunting regulations by proactively documenting crop damage, wildlife population concerns and responding to public comment opportunities.
“There was a good-sized crowd,” Holland said about the meeting. Both he and Jackson were glad the meeting took place to voice concerns and help find solutions.
Farmers are encouraged to stay informed about DWR public comment periods to submit feedback on crop damage. Additionally, because officials rely on input from hunters to track data and shape regulation, Holland emphasized properly reporting deer and bear harvests. Accurate data helps officials “make informed decisions” on future hunting regulations and solutions, he said.
Source - https://www.morningagclips.com/
