LANSING - In a move to protect Michigan jobs and prevent the devastating loss of income to many Thumb-area farms and businesses, State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) is urging the DNR to partially lift this season's ban on deer baiting it has ordered across the Lower Peninsula in response to a case of Chronic Wasting Disease found on the west side of the state.
"As a hunter, I am as concerned as anyone about protecting Michigan's deer herd as well as the economic impact that hunting has on our communities and our state," said Brown, who heard testimony from Department of Natural Resources officials about the CWD situation as a member of the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee. "However, I have heard from many farmers and businesses that simply may not survive the unexpected loss of annual income from bait sales. We have to look at the immediate economic harm that this broad response to one case of CWD at a private facility will cause."
The baiting ban was triggered by the discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease in a 3-year-old white tailed deer at a breeding facility in Kent County. All the deer at the ranch have tested negative for CWD, and no other cases of CWD have been found in captive or free-ranging Michigan deer. DNR officials ordered an immediate ban on baiting across the entire Lower Peninsula, which it said will keep deer from congregating and spreading the disease, even though it is not known how the deer at the Kent County facility became infected.
Brown co-sponsored a resolution in the Michigan House urging the DNR to lift that ban for this season and apply a baiting ban only to the Kent County CWD surveillance zone, near the one case of infection.
"I believe it is reasonable to ban baiting in the area around the Kent County facility," Brown said. "The science does not justify a ban on baiting across the entire Lower Peninsula that will inflict millions of dollars in damage to farmers and businesses and force them to absorb huge costs and lay off workers. Michigan's economy cannot afford a blow like that right now."
Brown, who is also a member of the House Agriculture Committee, has been in close contact with Michigan Farm Bureau officials about the situation. He said the organization is working on compiling lists of livestock feeders and other possible buyers of beets, carrots and other items grown as deer bait to help farmers in case they end up with products they cannot sell. Growers can contact Brown's office at (888) 254-5284 or tbrown@house.mi.gov to learn more.