Delaware farmers say deer are taking an increasing bite out of their bottom line this growing season, prompting state officials to expand assistance programs aimed at reducing crop damage.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) recently announced expedited enrollment in its Extreme Deer Damage Assistance Program (EDDAP), citing increased reports of deer-related crop losses across the state.
At T.A. Farms in Camden-Wyoming, Brian and Dan Palmer say deer damage has become a persistent challenge that affects how they farm.
"We manage which crops we grow on that farm because of the deer damage, like they don't really like sorghum as much," said Brian Palmer. "So we've rotated our soybeans and corn out with sorghum and that has helped. But you can't just plant sorghum year after year on there, so you have to go to a different crop."
The problem has been compounded by dry weather conditions across Delaware.
"With the drought, it's a little worse this year," Palmer said. "We've already replanted some beans that we previously planted that have already been damaged by deer."
According to DNREC, farmers throughout the state have reported dramatically higher levels of damage than usual, with some crops being consumed multiple times and requiring replanting.
Palmer said deer often target crops at their most vulnerable stage.
"When the corn is just coming up, just like the soybeans also are, they like to get that first and that destroys the crop," he said. "Once they clip that crop off, then it's done. So you have to replant."
For farmers already dealing with rising expenses, the losses can quickly become costly.
"The cost to plant a crop, whether it be corn or soybeans or sorghum, is a lot higher this year because the prices of fertilizer and when you have drought damage or deer damage, it just devastates you financially because commodity prices are so much cheaper too," said Dan Palmer.
To provide immediate relief, DNREC is temporarily streamlining enrollment in EDDAP. The program allows enrolled farmers to have hunters harvest antlerless deer on their property year-round, although hunting remains restricted to the enrolled parcels.
The department is temporarily waiving the usual requirements for damage documentation and deer management plans so qualifying farmers can begin receiving assistance more quickly.
Dan Palmer believes reducing deer populations is a key part of the solution.
"There's gotten to be over the years, less and less hunters that hunt," Palmer said. "So if you find somebody that hunts, then you need to get them, because I think harvesting as many deer as you can in the fall gets the population down so there isn't as much damage."
Brian Palmer said any assistance is welcome, especially for smaller farming operations.
"A small farm like we are, every little acre helps," he said.
DNREC says it will continue working with the Delaware Department of Agriculture to identify additional ways to help farmers and will share updates as more assistance becomes available.
Source - https://www.wboc.com
