Minnesota livestock groups are teaming up with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to address the growing issue of deer depredation on crops. Jake Thompson, president of the State Cattlemen’s Association, highlighted the impact deer are having on yields:
“To the point where you have areas, fields that are seeing APH’s (average production history) starting to drop just because they haven’t been able to get a yield because of the deer. You go up by me in northern Minnesota, it’s more winter time, spring time feed depredation problems.”
DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen acknowledged the complexity of the problem and emphasized the need for a multifaceted approach:
“We need multiple tools in that toolbox in order to help, whether it is fencing to keep deer out of food storage areas, and then obviously trying to reduce deer densities in areas.”
Strommen noted that the state’s depredation program has declined over the years, and there is a clear need to rebuild it to effectively manage the issue.
