Crop Damage Control 2007


Author(s)

Velma Hudson

Summary

The Waterfowl Crop Damage Prevention Program (WCDPP) provides assistance to Alberta grain producers in reducing or preventing damage to cereal crops caused by waterfowl during the fall migration period. Damage prevention is accomplished through provision of alternate food for waterfowl at feeding stations and lure crops, provision of waterfowl scaring equipment for producers to borrow free of charge and waterfowl scaring advice available through print media, internet and WCDPP coordinators.

In 2007, ten feeding stations and one lure crop operated for an average of 65 d providing a total of 11,936 bushels of barley for an estimated 1,338,183 duck-days of use.

Scaring equipment was available for producers to borrow at 46 locations throughout the province. Scare cannon distribution centres operated for an average of 83 d, and 192 cannons were loaned to 84 landowners for use on at least 157 quarter sections of land. Of landowners who borrowed scare cannons, 38% agreed to allow their contact information to be provided to waterfowl hunters. Scare cannon request information was provided to waterfowl enthusiasts through weekly updates on an Alberta Conservation Association waterfowl web page. Three waterfowl hunters contacted WCDPP coordinators for landowner contact information.

The majority of cereal crops reached 70% harvest completion by mid September in southern Alberta and by the second week of October in northern Alberta. The 2007 WCDPP was delivered in accordance with the program plan and within budget.

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