Sandhill Crane Legislation Receives Committee Hearing

SB 112 would establish a sandhill crane hunting season. Photo by Mathew Schwartz, Unsplash.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, WFU Government Relations Director, Michelle Ramirez-White submitted testimony to the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage on SB 112, which would establish a sandhill crane hunting season.

An initial draft of the bill included provisions that would create a seed treatment abatement assistance program and an increase in payment amounts for crop damage caused by cranes. WFU provided informational comments on the legislation, advocating that the abatement and crop damage payment programs be added back into the final bill language.

See WFU's full testimony below:

Chair Stafsholt and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to comment on behalf of the Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) on Senate Bill 112, relating to hunting of sandhill cranes and programs related to sandhill crane damage. 

Wisconsin Farmers Union, founded in 1930 in Elk Mound WI, is the second largest general agricultural organization in the state. WFU supports small and medium size family farmers and rural communities. The membership represents a wide array of farm types: conventional, organic, dairy, grain, livestock, and specialty crop producers.

Sandhill cranes cause significant crop damage in Wisconsin, especially to corn planted in the spring. The primary cause is cranes eating germinating corn seeds after planting, though other crops like potatoes and peas are also affected. The Wisconsin Farmers Union would request the following considerations to the current draft to represent the perspective of WFU members.

1. Restore the Abatement assistance program for corn producers 

This program was present in the original draft of SB 112, and we would request it be restored to support WI corn farmers experiencing crop damage. Seed treatment, like Avipel, is a bird repellent seed treatment that makes corn seeds taste bitter to birds, discouraging them from eating the planted seeds without harming them. The cost-share under the original draft would partially financially support farmers purchasing of this non-leathal mitigation method. 

2. Restore the raised wildlife damage surcharge and licensing fees 

Under current law, damage caused by cranes becomes eligible under Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Programs (WDACP), if hunting of those cranes is authorized. Funding to farmers in this program largely comes from a wildlife damage surcharge on most hunting approvals. WFU requests the SB 112 be restored to the original draft that raised the wildlife damage surcharge, as well as licensing fees, for sandhill cranes. The amount of damage WDACP would need to pay to those experiencing crop damage, if sandhills are added to the program, would be more than the revenue being brought in by licensing fees. WFU is concerned the WDACP would be prorated, meaning every individual applying for support under the program, for any species in the program, would receive less assistance.  WFU wants to ensure farmers are able to receive appropriate support for crop and livestock damage under WDACP for sandhills and all other species in the program, reintroducing the raised surcharge and higher licensing fees for cranes would support additional funding for WDACP. 

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on this proposed legislation.

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Find more details on WFU's sandhill crane policy on page 86

in the policy book.