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Polk County hears wildlife damage report; committee sets commodity prices for claims
Summary
Polk County's animal damage abatement administrator reported five expected claims (three deer, two bear) for 2024; the committee reached consensus on pricing for claims: corn at $3.74 per bushel, soybeans at $9.90 and oats at about $3.36, and asked staff to return with claim details at the next meeting.
Cody Knope, who administers the animal damage abatement claims program for the region, briefed the committee on 2024 crop damage and claims. "This year, we're looking at probably 5 claims," Knope said, specifying three deer and two bear claims in Polk County. He reported that geese claims were zero this year and that corn and soybean fields accounted for most damage.
Committee discussion focused on the price used to calculate commodity losses for claims. Staff presented options including local elevator averages and NASS (national agricultural statistics) averages. Members reached a consensus to set corn at $3.74 per bushel. For soybeans, the committee accepted a recommended figure near $9.90 per bushel; oats were discussed using a NASS/Wisconsin figure near $3.36 per bushel. Members emphasized that the committee would finalize individual claim approvals and the actual claimant names would be withheld from the pricing decision until claims are formally processed.
Knope described inspection methods used for damage assessment: he said he conducts aerial inspections for corn and follows with ground-rectified yield sampling for accuracy. He told the committee that some fields in northern parts of the county were heavily damaged, including an example of a small dairy silage field he estimated lost about 80% of yield on roughly 10 acres. Staff will return next meeting with prepared claims and pricing documentation for formal claim approvals.
