The Van Trump Report

University of Tennessee Researchers Developing Deer-Proof Soybeans

Among the pests that farmers deal with every year, cute little “Bambi” is a particularly difficult menace to manage. Estimated annual losses to U.S. farmers from damaged caused by deer reaches into the millions. Researchers at University of Tennessee hope to cut the losses for soybean farmers with a new variety that literally gives deer a stomach ache.

A study published in Crop Protection journal  last year found that wildlife damage is an often overlooked but growing insurable cause of loss for U.S. crops. Indemnity payments from wildlife damage have increased from $15,563,509 in 2012 (on 108,870 acres) to $38,660,309 in 2022 (on 200,159 acres), with most (37%)  being for soybeans, while 21% were for corn.

White-tailed deer were found to be the wildlife species that caused the most widespread and highest damage in terms of acres and dollars. Deer consume a wide variety of crops, including corn and soybeans, trample fields and damage nearby trees, fences, and other property. The severity of deer damage can vary widely by region and crop type.

The study notes that white-tailed deer populations happen to be high in areas where corn and soybeans are grown. Average annual losses due to deer damage have been estimated to be between $105 and $585 per acre for corn and $39 to $470 per acre for soybeans in the Midwest.

Managing deer populations and minimizing their impact often requires a combination of strategies, which can be time-consuming and require additional labor. In severe cases, farmers have to abandon fields or change crops.  

According to Sebe Brown, University of Tennessee Extension field crops IPM specialist, deer find soybeans particularly tasty. “It’s a legume, high in protein, and deer preferentially feed on them before just about anything else,” said Brown. In an agricultural ecosystem, Brown said research shows up to 80% of a deer’s diet is comprised of soybeans.  

Brown and his team set out to make soybeans lest desirable to deer. Using gene editing tools, the researchers inserted a gene taken from a wild variety of soybeans that causes the plant to produce what’s known as “trypsin inhibitors.” Trypsin is an essential digestive enzyme secreted by humans and many animal species, both vertebrates and invertebrates.  

When trypsin production is inhibited in deer, “It basically gives them an upset stomach and then they don’t like to feed on those soybeans,” explains Brown. The effect is similar to the way some foliar sprays work. However, the benefit of having it built into the plant is that it won’t wash off or lose effectiveness after application.

Previous trials of the same trypsin-inhibiting gene modification showed it also reduced damage from common soybean insect pests, like bean leaf beetles and soybean loopers. Trials have also shown no notable yield drag from the modification.

The technology is still in the very early stages as the researchers continue to conduct trials and streamline their process. The team may also need to address certain issues, like whether trypsin inhibitors in these plants could have an impact on human health? If the inhibitors collect in the seeds, it might require additional processing to remove the them before human consumption. (Sources: Delta Farm Press, Science Daily, UT Extension)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *