By Bruce Ross, Executive Director, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
This Editorial for the WWA Newsletter originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February, 2025 Newsletter edition.
The song and stately presence of the sandhill crane is becoming increasingly prevalent across the state. However, the rising population of this migratory bird incurs significant costs for state farmers, with nearly $4 million in annual crop loss or prevention expenses.
So the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association welcomes Governor Evers’ acknowledgment of the issues posed by the expanding sandhill crane population for state farmers. A recent announcement indicates that his 2025-26 budget will allocate millions of dollars to compensate farmers for using a seed treatment designed to deter sandhill cranes from consuming freshly planted corn.
This seed treatment can mitigate corn crop damage caused by cranes and reduce the number of cranes culled under agricultural depredation permits, which amounted to 1,400 last year.
But as an unintended consequence, fewer crane depredation fatalities would accelerate population growth, further threatening crops and necessitating increased use of seed treatments and taxpayer subsidies. A vicious cycle with farmer and taxpayer footing the bill.
Cranes foraging in a freshly planted corn field
Research suggests that up to 3 million acres of corn are at risk, potentially costing $40 million annually for treatments. Moreover, there is no provision for other crops affected by crane depredation, such as potato and wheat, which constitute nearly half of the total costs. These expenses will grow along with the crane population.
Governor Evers’ recognition of these crane issues follows a recent bipartisan Legislative Council Study, which examined the problem over five months. The committee was comprised of Democratic and Republican legislators, as well as public members representing farmers, bird watchers, scientists, and hunting groups.
The study committee concluded that supporting corn farmers is indeed justified as part of a comprehensive, science-based, data-driven management strategy for these federally managed migratory birds.
Potato damage from cranes
But the study also highlighted the necessity for additional measures to reduce the impact on crops other than corn. It recommended that the Department of Natural Resources collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a broader, international effort to manage the crane population according to established goals through a limited crane hunt within the state. Like 17 other states and three provinces. Such an action would also make the hunter-funded state wildlife damage fund available to farmers of crop where mitigation treatment is not feasible.
The crane population far surpasses continental population goals while farmers, not birdwatchers, pay the price. The Governor’s corn-only subsidy is a good start but doesn’t fully address the issue. Now, with Governor Evers’ appreciation of the problem, and the Study Committee’s comprehensive strategy, the topic should have bi-partisan interest when the legislature takes up the budget shortly.