This proposed continuation is to collect a third year of data on the impact of deer populations on soybean throughout South Carolina. (This is planned to be the last year of this project unless the Board wishes for this work to be continued to a fourth year). The 2022 growing season posed many challenges for cooperating growers and Clemson University research farms that participated in this project. For the Simpson Station located in Anderson, SC, untimely rainfall in the spring led to a delayed harvest of small grain fields that were followed by drought conditions, this resulted in extremely late planting of soybeans. Unfortunately, this was the case for many farmers across South Carolina and not just the Upstate. Similar conditions were observed at Sandhills REC where poor germination resulted in no yield data being obtained. However, the 2021 and 2022 result that were obtained against adverse growing conditions, quantifiably demonstrated that deer damage to soybean in South Carolina is significant.

This third year of work will be kept the same size as 2022 for the number of deer population surveys, but seek to improve confidence in data on soybean yield effects of deer damage as a function of population. The main objective for the continuation of this project is to further collect data to quantify the economic impact of deer populations on soybeans. Beginning as early as late January of 2023 night surveys for local deer populations will be conducted again in Barnwell County, Anderson County, Florence County, Richland County, and Orangeburg County. Exclusion cages will be utilized in fields of cooperating farmers just like this past year to determine soybean yield within a given field in the absence of deer feeding pressure. Any research with wildlife poses many challenges, especially in data variability, and deer are no exception. Having multiple years of data on population estimates and related soybean damage helps to overcome those challenges.

The main objective for the continuation of this project is to further collect data to quantify the economic impact of deer populations on soybeans.

Results of this proposed study will be disseminated to growers through presentations at grower meetings and field days. Additionally, project results may be included in press releases, social media, blogs, newsletters, scientific publications, fact sheets, and production guides.

Data from the 2021 and 2022 projects produced promising results supporting the case in advocating for farmers who are struggling with deer feeding damage in soybeans. Our overall average deer population estimates in areas with a large proportion of crop land were found to be about two and a half times more than the most recently published data from a 2013 SCDNR deer density map. While the soybean acreage across South Carolina varies, so does deer population density and habitat. All of these factors will play a role in determining deer impact to soybean in a given area, and for these reasons the project has been expanded from one county in 2021 to five counties in different regions of the State.