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<p>The current costs of woodpigeon damage to the individual grower sectors are not
known.</p><p> </p><p>A 2014 estimate of woodpigeon damage to the overall UK oilseed
rape crop was approximately £2 million for a ‘low impact’ year (2% of national crop
severely damaged) and approximately £5 million for a ‘high impact’ year (5% of national
crop severely damaged). This is based on an average loss of £131 per hectare for severely
damaged crop. These figures were presented at a National Farmers Union bird deterrent
event held in December 2014.</p><p> </p><p>We do not have figures or estimates for
damage overall to other UK crops. However, a small scale consultation in 2014 with
growers produced estimates of economic loss associated with woodpigeon crop damage
ranging from £125 per hectare for oilseed rape to £250 per hectare for peas and £330-£1,250
per hectare for brassicas. It should be noted that general estimates were often broad,
lacked detail or in some cases were not provided.</p><p> </p>
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