REGINA – Harvesting near Foam Lake, Sask., is more than a race against the weather – it’s a fight against thousands of waterfowl that call the east central area of the province home.
Dan Thorsteinson, an area farmer and representative for the group No Compensation, No Hunting, said farmers are beginning this harvest without knowing what compensation they will receive due to waterfowl crop damage.
A wildlife damage task force report released last week made several recommendations on waterfowl damage, but Thorsteinson, a task force member, said an adequate compensation level was apparently not among them.
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The task force was made up of representatives from producer groups, special interest groups and the federal and provincial governments.
Members of the lobby group think waterfowl damage has worsened since a Canada-U.S. conservation agreement signed several years ago led to habitat improvements in the Quill Lakes area.
“If society accepted this …, then society should also realize that somebody has to pay to keep feeding them,” Thorsteinson said.
“We as farmers will donate five percent of the feeding costs, but not the other 95 percent. I think we’re way more than fair.”
Last year, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance paid 70 percent of assessed damage, with a minimum claim of $500. This was less coverage than in 1992 and Thorsteinson’s group responded by posting their land with No Hunting signs.
Thorsteinson said calls are already coming in from American bird hunters and they are being told the land is still posted.
Ducks Unlimited, a habitat preservation group supported by hunters, was represented on the task force and was a major money supplier for the Quill Lakes project.
The task force recommended:
- Governments provide minimum compensation of 80 percent of assessed actual dollar loss with a minimum claim of $250.
- Coverage of 95 percent should be pursued: the government’s portion limited to 80 percent and other stakeholders to provide 15 percent.
- Local advisory groups be established to help plan and manage effective prevention programs. Prevention initiatives included expanding fencing programs to include nurseries, U-pick berry farms and bee farms.
- New sources of funding should be explored to provide compensation for wildlife damage.
The recommendations are now under review by federal and provincial agencies.
