White-Tailed Deer and the Hidden Costs to Farmers’ Livelihoods: A Case Study of New Jersey Stories

Between October 2020 and March 2021, Rutgers Cooperative Extension surveyed and interviewed a group of 27 farmers who shared stories of struggles with increasing white-tailed deer numbers and associated impacts to their farms and families.

The current case study builds on previous NJAES research that provides estimates of direct financial losses from deer eating crops. However, there are many other costs that are not as obvious. New information is provided on “hidden costs” associated with deer such as environmental impacts, safety concerns, abandoning fields, not being able to grow preferred crops, having to change crop rotations, the need for increased use of fertilizers and herbicides, time and money spent on deer management, and the emotional toll it can take.

Within this small pool of 27 farmers, the conservatively estimated impact of deer damage in 2019 was nearly $1.3 million. Additionally, farmers provided recommendations for enhancing deer management in the state. Challenges related to public awareness, residential development surrounding farms, and management on adjacent public and private lands are also addressed.

Documents

Full Report (5.7MB PDF)
Includes all sections of the report with appendixes.

Executive Summary (403k PDF)
Highlights the purpose of the study, methodology, overview of deer-related direct and hidden costs to livelihoods, and farmers’ recommendations for enhancing deer management in New Jersey.

Setting the Stage (924k PDF)
Introduces the reader to deer damage and management issues that many New Jerseyans regularly encounter but may not realize. Issues include forest impacts, residential deer refuges, deer-vehicle collisions, crop damage, livelihood and emotional impacts to farmers.

In Their Words (296k PDF)
Highlights two stories where farmers discuss, the challenges they face to produce food for their communities, increases in deer numbers over time, and impacts to the environment, farms, and their livelihoods.

Appendix I: What Farmers Want You to Know–Key Topics (589k PDF)
Provides a summary of key topics identified in case study stories including messages to policymakers, food security, venison donation, environmental impacts, changes in deer population, livelihood impacts, management challenges and effectiveness.

Appendix II: Complete Farmer Case Studies (824k PDF)
A group of 27 New Jersey farmers share their stories of struggling with increasing numbers of white-tailed deer and how it has impacted their farms and livelihoods.

Appendix III: Crops Affected by Deer Damage (422k PDF)
Provides a list of crops reported by case study farmers that were affected by deer damage.

Report Without Appendices (5.3MB PDF)
Includes all sections of the report except the appendices.