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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cash value of damage done to growing maize by badgers was in the last year for which figures are available. [157927] Mr. Bradshaw: There is no national estimate of the financial value of damage done to growing maize by badgers. A survey of badger damage to agricultural properties in England and Wales was conducted in 1997 based on 1,982 farmer questionnaire returns (out of a sample of 3,600 farmers). Crop damage was reported by 21 per cent. of respondents with wheat, forage maize and vines being damaged most frequently. 69 respondents reported badger damage to maize. The mean percentage of maize crops damaged, based on estimates provided by the respondents, was 5 per cent., with a maximum of 20 per cent. Reports of damage to maize were concentrated in August and September. Damage assessments of eight maize fields known to be used by badgers recorded an average of 114 unharvestable maize cobs per hectare. Forage maize crops protected by electric fencing sustained 96 per cent. less damage than unprotected crops (advice on electric fencing is given in the Defra leaflet TAN 15 `Badger problems: use of electric fencing to prevent agricultural damage', which is available from the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/ leaflets.htm Moore N.P., Whiterow, A., Langton, S.D., Kelly, P.P., Garthwaite, D., Bishop, J.D. and Cheeseman, C.L. (1998) `The Assessment of Badger Damage to Agriculture and Forestry'. Report to MAFF, Project VC 0318 . Moore N.P., Whiterow, A., Kelly, P.F., Garthwaite, D., Bishop, J.D., Langton, S.D. and Cheeseman, C.L. (1999) Survey of badger Meles meles damage to agriculture in England and Wales. Journal of Applied Ecology 36:974-988 Poole, D., McKillop, G.I., Western, G., Hancocks, P., Packer, J. and Coombs, C. (1999) `Effectiveness of an electric fence to reduce badger damage to field crops'. Report to MAFF.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

157927; 419 c273W;419 c275W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Crops Costs Badgers Damage Protection Pest control Research Maize

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk