Committee approves USDA wildlife-damage budget, crop prices and 2027 deer donation program

At its meeting, the Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee approved multiple wildlife-damage items brought forward by USDA Wildlife Services, including the 2027 damage budget, a revised assessment deadline and the county crop-price proposal used to set compensation rates.

James Doss, a USDA Wildlife Services representative, explained how the crop-price figures were calculated: “I take a yearly average starting at the beginning of each year…which then gives me what we have right now, which is $3.92 a bushel for corn and $10.96 a bushel for soybeans.” The committee accepted the 2027 damage budget (motion moved and seconded), set the damage-assessment deadline to Dec. 20 and approved the crop-price schedule in successive votes; the Chair announced the motions and called each roll, with the motions carrying by recorded 'aye' votes.

Doss also described the 2027 deer donation program and how processors participate: harvested deer are brought to a processor (the representative noted Whiskey Ridge as a participating processor), which processes meat for donation to local food shelters; processors are reimbursed to cover processing and logistics. The committee voted to adopt the 2027 program.

The actions approved set administrative parameters for how residents and farmers can enroll for compensation and how donated venison is routed to community food programs. The committee noted that actual compensation amounts depend on the number of enrollees and eligibility; Doss cautioned the projected counts and dollar totals in the packet are estimates contingent on participation.