New Wildlife Management Resource Available for Farmers

 

The last national United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey of U.S. wildlife damage to agriculture took place in 2001 and estimated $944 million in losses. At the national level, primary wildlife species resulting in losses to field crops included deer, turkeys, raccoons and waterfowl (collectively 75 percent of the reported losses), with 22 percent attributed to other species. For vegetables, fruits and nuts, deer, ground squirrels and other small rodents, crows, raccoons and rabbits were most frequently reported (64 percent), with other species accounting for 36 percent of the reported losses. All of these species have the potential to significantly impact agriculture in the Midwest as they are generally abundant, widespread and persist in agriculture dominated landscapes.

 

In an effort to assist farmers in the Midwestern U.S. in addressing wildlife damage management on the farm, the Ag and Wildlife Coexistence Working Group has developed an initial series of wildlife management fact sheets that address eight wildlife species that commonly impact farmers, including white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes, black bears, coyotes, crows, song birds, voles and wild turkeys. These fact sheets address damage identification, species behavior, current mitigation recommendations and contact information for relevant regulatory agencies. The fact sheets are available for free download at Michigan State University's Wildlife Management page.

 

Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta