(The Center Square) – Illinois farmers may soon be able to act when deer damage their crops.
The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that would allow agricultural landowners to obtain permits to destroy deer responsible for crop damage.
State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, is the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 710.
“We need to give our farmers the tools they need when they have nuisance deer that are making an impact on the yield of their crops. It’s been all over the state that we’ve had people contacting us that we need to do something to change it,” Joyce said.
Joyce said the legislation was realized after three or four months of negotiations involving the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He said the bill provided for expanded permitting and additional tags in several categories.
State Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, applauded Joyce’s efforts.
“It’s just a big win for our farmers. On behalf of the farmers that I represent, I just want to say thank you on their behalf,” Fowler said.
Fowler said farmers in his district have lost tens of thousands of dollars due to deer.
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said deer caused heavy losses for a major pumpkin grower in her district.
“Ten-percent of their crop was lost to deer the year before last, 10% of all the pumpkins for their entire business,” Bryant said.
Senators approved SB 710 Thursday by a vote of 51 in favor and none opposed.
Joyce thanked the IDNR, the IFB and his fellow legislators for coming together to support the measure.
“We had 29 bills and four resolutions dealing with deer damage and deer population,” Joyce said.
Also Thursday, the Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee passed House Bill 2340. The measure provides additional eligibility for landowner deer permits without charge.
