Delaware Launches $1.5 Million Deer Crop Damage Program

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is developing a pilot indemnity program to help farmers cover losses from deer feeding on crops.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Hunting

Young soybean plants in a flat farm field at dawn, several stems nipped and bent, with a hardwood tree line at the field edge. — The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced a $1.5 million deer crop damage indemnity program to help farmers cover losses from deer feeding on crops during the growing season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should state government spend public money to help farmers reduce deer damage?

The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced a $1.5 million Delaware Deer Crop Damage Indemnity Program, funded through the Fiscal Year 2027 Bond Bill. Details on the application process, eligibility requirements and deadlines are still being finalized.

Why it matters

Deer feed heavily on soybeans, corn and other crops during the growing season, and damage to young crops can be severe. For Delaware farmers, the program may offer assistance to prevent significant losses during the 2027 growing season.

The program is a pilot funded at $1.5 million through the Fiscal Year 2027 Bond Bill, with one adult deer consuming up to five pounds of feed daily. Eligibility may depend on harvesting a number of deer under the DNREC deer damage program, though specifics remain unannounced.

The players

Delaware Department of Agriculture

The state agency responsible for agricultural policy and farmer support programs in Delaware, which is developing the indemnity program.

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)

The state agency that manages Delaware's natural resources and runs the deer damage assistance program that farmers must register with.

The details

Eligible farmers must register at an appropriate level with the deer damage assistance program run by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). The Department of Agriculture is finalizing the rules for the indemnity program, which is still under development.

November firearm deer season for shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, straight-walled rifles and archery runs through Nov. 22, 2026.
Deer Damage Session takes place Jan. 12, 2027, at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington during Delaware Ag Week.
January firearm deer season runs Jan. 16-24, 2027.
Overall state deer season ends Jan. 31, 2027.

Culture Shift

The program is funded through Delaware's Fiscal Year 2027 Bond Bill, extending state capital appropriations into direct compensation for wildlife-related crop losses. It reflects a growing pattern of states treating deer damage as an agricultural cost to be shared between landowners and government.

Farmers who expect deer damage in the 2027 growing season should watch for the application process and register with DNREC's deer damage assistance program. Attending the Deer Damage Session on Jan. 12, 2027, at the Delaware State Fairgrounds may help growers understand eligibility before deadlines are announced.

The takeaway

Farmers facing deer losses should prepare to register with DNREC's deer damage assistance program now, since eligibility for the new indemnity program may depend on that enrollment. Keeping records of crop damage will help with any future claims.

What happens next

The November firearm deer season closes Nov. 22, 2026, the Deer Damage Session takes place Jan. 12, 2027, and the January firearm deer season runs Jan. 16-24, 2027, with the overall season ending Jan. 31, 2027.