The 2025 Senate Bill 112 aims to address issues related to the hunting of sandhill cranes and the damage they cause to agricultural crops, particularly corn. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to establish a reimbursement program for farmers who purchase seed treatments to deter sandhill cranes from consuming corn seeds. Eligible applicants can receive up to 50% reimbursement for their seed treatment costs, capped at $6,250 per planting season. The bill also includes provisions for prioritizing reimbursements based on previous federal depredation permits and the vulnerability of the land to crane damage. Additionally, it creates a continuing appropriation of $1,875,000 for the program in each of the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish a hunting season for sandhill cranes, contingent upon approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It outlines the issuance of hunting permits, which will be controlled to manage the number of hunters and cranes harvested, and includes a cumulative preference system for permit allocation. The bill also raises the wildlife damage surcharge on hunting approvals to fund wildlife damage abatement programs, with specific increases contingent on the establishment of a sandhill crane hunting season. Overall, the bill seeks to balance agricultural interests with wildlife management and conservation efforts.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.370(5)(fq), 20.370, 29.179(4), 29.179