4 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | December 2023 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR HELP NEEDED WITH WILDLIFE DAMAGE OFA director Bill Groenheide recently authored an explanation of why the organization advocates for farmers whose crops are damaged by or lost to wildlife. Potential remedies could be a compensation program similar to that available to livestock farmers, and support with practical control options. The Thunder Bay-area farmer offered some specifics on how sandhill cranes are causing crop damage and losses for northern Ontario producers. “These are birds that used to migrate south in the winter but are now increasingly staying put, and as their populations are growing, their impact on agriculture is also on the rise. “In the spring, they’ll feast on newly planted seeds or nibble on freshly sprouted wheat or corn crops, and some farmers have reported losing up to 30 per cent of their planted acres to damage. “A farmer’s only choice, if they want to harvest a crop in the fall, is to replant, which is both costly and without a guarantee that wildlife won’t overtake those plants and seeds too. “In the fall, harvest-ready corn and soybeans are also an attraction.” Birds aren’t the only challenge, though, and it’s not just farmers in the north who deal with this. Crops can be vulnerable to harm from a diverse range of animals, including deer, raccoons, geese, migratory birds, and wild turkeys. And on top of damaging crops, white-tailed deer can also transmit illnesses like Chronic Wasting Disease, a prion disease that affects various cervids including deer, elk, reindeer, and moose. This poses risks to farmed deer populations and their counterparts. As Groenheide explains, farmers’ hands are tied when defending their crops from these wild animals. Provincial laws only permit specific actions, often restricted to certain periods of the year. Predatory animals can target livestock and poultry too. Fortunately, the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program exists. This initiative allows farmers to seek compensation for livestock or poultry harmed by wildlife. Paul Nolan Producers recently gathered at University of Guelph’s Dairy Research Showcase in Elora. Faculty shared results from projects related to new genetics, calf care, and reproduction problems. Emily Croft photo 1-888-248-4893 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PAUL NOLAN ext 202 Paul.Nolan@Farms.com ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR LESLIE STEWART ext 265 Leslie.Stewart@Farms.com AGRICULTURAL JOURNALIST EMILY CROFT CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION MOE AGOSTINO CAMPBELL CORK DALE COWAN ABHINESH GOPAL PAUL HERMANS PATRICK LYNCH RALPH WINFIELD ADVERTISING TEAM GLENN RUEGG JEFF MCKEE JENNY LONGSTREET SCOTT FARHOOD SAMANTHA RENAUD JOAN SPIEGELBERG DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM TANYA MYERS GREG MARLOW SHAUN CLARK ANDREA WILLIAMS www.BetterFarming.com Better Farming magazine is mailed as a member-benefit to all farmer members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. If you are not an OFA member, subscribe at: 1-888-248-4893 ext 281 Subscriptions@BetterFarming.com ISSN 1498-9344 (Printed) Canadian one-year subscriptions: $41 (11 issues; includes $4.72 HST). Two-year: $74 ($8.51 HST). U.S. subscriptions: $72 annually. International: $121. Single-copy back issues are $12. GST Registration #868959347RT0001 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AgMedia Inc., 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2. Publications Mail Registration #1156. Publications Mail Agreement #40037298. Copyright ©2023 by AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Better Farming, AgMedia or Farms.com endorse any advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the omission of any scheduled advertising. Follow us on Twitter @BetterFarmingON We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Cover: Jennelle Vander Hout photo, Case IH photo
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