Fruit Wildlife Damage National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 26, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Fruit Wildlife Damage" call Steve Gunn at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. 41.0 Million Dollars of Fruit Lost to Wildlife Damage A survey of producers in 7 major fruit producing states in 1998 revealed that 41.0 million dollars or 1 percent of the U.S. production of apples, blueberries, and grapes was lost to wildlife damage. The survey of 8,850 producers was conducted in California, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Blueberries had the highest percentage of production lost to wildlife at 4 percent. Grapes and apples each had a 1 percent loss. The study indicated that producers spent 9.9 million dollars on wildlife damage prevention for these three crops. Grapes had the largest share with 5.4 million dollars spent on prevention. Apples and blueberries followed with 4.0 million dollars and 443 thousand dollars respectively. The Wildlife Damage Survey was funded by USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services. 1998 U.S. Wildlife Damage to Selected Fruit Crops 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 :------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Price : Value of :Total Dollar : Total Crop : Utilized : per : Utilized : Value Lost : Expenditures on : Production : Unit : Production :From Wildlife: Wildlife Damage : : : : Damage : Prevention -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 Pounds Pound ------------ 1,000 Dollars --------------- : Apples :10,597,200 .116 1,226,380 13,504 4,013 : Blueberries : 154,203 .722 111,366 4,375 443 : : Ton Ton : Grapes : 5,592,005 446.00 2,492,306 23,135 5,431 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ U.S. totals for dollars lost and prevention expenses were expanded based on data from the surveyed states. Sp Cr 3(5-99) 13.5 Million Dollars of Apple Crop Lost to Wildlife Damage In 1998, wildlife damage to apple production in the U.S. amounted to 13.5 million dollars or 1 percent of value of production. Approximately 4.0 million dollars was spent by producers to prevent wildlife damage to their apple crop. The most frequently reported wildlife causing damage to the apple crop were starlings (16%), deer (14%), mice and voles (10%), and robins (9%). The most frequently reported methods used to prevent wildlife damage were pyrotechnics (21%), flagging (15%), repellents (15%), frightening devices (14%), and fencing (14%). 1998 Wildlife Damage to Apples for Major Producing States and U.S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Utilized : Apple : Value of : Total Dollar : Total State : Apple :Price per: Utilized :Value Lost From: Expenditures on :Production : Pound : Apple : Wildlife : Wildlife Damage : : :Production: Damage : Prevention ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 Pounds Dollars ----------- 1,000 Dollars ----------------- : CA : 800,000 .166 133,150 3,257 404 MI : 930,000 .087 81,300 1,396 576 NY : 1,010,000 .112 113,590 1,619 846 PA : 404,000 .121 48,905 466 275 WA : 5,900,000 .104 613,100 4,166 1,133 : Oth Sts 1/ : 1,553,200 .152 236,335 2,600 780 : US 1/ : 10,597,200 .116 1,226,380 13,504 4,014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ U.S. and other states totals for dollar value lost and prevention expenditures were expanded based on data from the surveyed states. 4.4 Million Dollars of Blueberry Crop Lost to Wildlife Damage In 1998, wildlife damage to blueberry production in the U.S. amounted to 4.4 million dollars or 4 percent of value of production. Approximately 443 thousand dollars was spent by producers to prevent wildlife damage to their blueberry crop. The most frequently reported wildlife causing damage to the blueberry crop were deer (18%), blackbirds (15%), starlings (14%), robins (11%), and crows and ravens (10%). The most frequently reported methods used to prevent wildlife damage were pyrotechnics (30%), frightening devices (23%), fencing (15%), repellents (10%), and flagging (9%). Wildlife Damage to Blueberrie for Major Producing States and U.S. 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Utilized :Blueberry: Value of : Total Dollar : Total State : Blueberry :Price per: Utilized :Value Lost From: Expenditures on : Production: Pound :Blueberry : Wildlife : Wildlife Damage : : :Production: Damage : Prevention ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 Pounds Dollars ----------- 1,000 Dollars ----------------- : MI : 55,000 .621 34,150 1,208 171 NJ : 36,000 .788 28,360 1,404 73 NC : 14,200 .913 12,962 116 19 WA : 10,500 .625 6,565 494 63 : Oth Sts 1/ : 38,503 .762 29,329 1,153 117 : US 1/ : 154,203 .722 111,366 4,375 443 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ U.S. and other states totals for dollar value lost and prevention expenditures were expanded based on data from the surveyed states. 23.1 Million Dollars of Grape Crop Lost to Wildlife Damage In 1998, wildlife damage to grape production in the U.S. amounted to 23.1 million dollars or 1 percent of value of production. Approximately 5.4 million dollars was spent by producers to prevent wildlife damage to their grape crop. The most frequently reported wildlife causing damage to the grape crop were starlings (14%), ground squirrels (9%), blackbirds (8%), deer (8%), and coyotes (7%). The most frequently reported methods used to prevent wildlife damage were fencing (24%), flagging (18%), pyrotechnics (18%), frightening devices (13%), and repellents (7%). 1998 Wildlife Damage to Grapes for Major Producing States and U.S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 :----------------------------------------------------------------- : Utilized : Grape : Value of : Total Dollar : Total State : Grape :Price per: Utilized :Value Lost From: Expenditures on : Production: Ton : Grape : Wildlife : Wildlife Damage : : :Production: Damage : Prevention ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tons Dollars ----------- 1,000 Dollars ----------------- : CA : 5,065,000 448.00 2,269,910 19,725 4,767 MA : 71,000 251.00 17,798 250 54 NY : 125,000 305.00 38,146 1,143 254 PA : 54,000 267.00 14,404 138 62 WA : 222,000 482.00 107,004 1,460 195 : Oth Sts 1/ : 55,005 819.00 45,044 419 99 : US Total 1/ : 5,592,005 446.00 2,492,306 23,135 5,431 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ U.S. and other states totals for dollar value lost and prevention expenditures were expanded based on data from the surveyed states. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.