Dept. Forestry and Natural Resources
715 W. State Street
W. Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 494-3590
FAX: (765) 494-9461

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Impacts of Wildlife Damage on Crop Yield

Determining the actual impact of wildlife damage to crop yield depends on the stage of plant development, location of damage in the field, amount of damage, and the location of damage on the plant(s). Damage during critical reproductive stages generally will result in the most adverse results to yield--stages 4.5 to 5.5 for soybeans and the tassel (VT) and silk (R1) stages for corn. Any damage that knocks down corn plants later in development will result in losses up to 100% for each damaged plant. Downed corn that is not consumed will either rot or be eaten by other wildlife, and is unharvestable by a combine. Raccoon damage to corn during the milk through mature stages usually results in a total loss of yield for each plant damaged.

In almost all of the fields we surveyed, most wildlife damage resulted in relatively low yield losses (<$100). For the most heavily damaged fields we surveyed, yield losses were less than $500 based on the number of damaged plants, assuming 100% loss for each damaged plant. A total loss of approximately 1.4 acres of corn, or 32,000 plants, would equal $500 in damage. Similarly, over 1.8 acres of soybeans would have to be completely damaged at $5.50/bu with a yield of 49 bushels/acre (2005 statewide averages for Indiana [USDA-NASS 2006]) to reach $500 in damage. Five hundred dollars is the minimum amount of damage required to obtain a Deer Control Permit; thus, a substantial amount of damage to either corn or soybeans is required to reach that threshold.