Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching! That’s the sound of a lot of bears biting into $23,800 worth of crops during 2015, mostly corn, but some oats and even beehives.
“Garrett County farmers are good at feeding bears, but with the price of sweet corn it’s not cheap,” said Jay Maust, whose farm and cornfields stretch out alongside Aiken Miller Road just a rifle shot from Accident in the heart of the state’s bear country.
A year ago, Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service officials assessed the damage by black bears to Maust’s sweet corn at $1,200 and reimbursed him $190.80.
None of the other 12 certified claimants did any better, each receiving 16 percent of cost of the damage at their farms. Here’s the breakdown:
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Hopefully the price for cleaned bear pelts will make up the difference.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to "legalize" pot, you let us grow our own next to the potatoes and peas. This is nothing but setting up another tax collection agency.
ReplyDeleteThey waste more than that bear ate. I am so tired of their whining. See what really goes on and how must is wasted and left behind. Such BS
ReplyDeleteEvery occupation whines according to the readers of SBYNews. - police, firemen, teachers. and now the farmers. It must be a great life to not work - sit behind a computer 24/7 whining about people that actually work for a living..
DeleteI couldn't bear to read further.
ReplyDeleteThere's a problem when you pay out tax dollars to people for not working. And that includes paying farmers to not grow anything. This program seems to be paying from hunting license fees and black bear memorabilia proceeds. So there are limits to pay out. The answer for these farmers is to have crop insurance, grow something else in that area, or get a permit to shoot black bears.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows that real corn is grown on the Eastern Shore.
ReplyDelete10:23 PM - I do work, in agriculture, growing vegetables. So I know he is whining over nothing and just wants free money. I know what gets wasted, not intentionally, just because it happens.
ReplyDeleteWhether it be disease, fungus, etc, there is always a percentage of waste. If we can't sell it, it sits on the vine and rots.
His complaint is total BS.
So stick it where the sun don't shine, troll.