While soybeans suit his operation, they pose another problem in pests — the large kind. “You can’t imagine the deer population,” he said. “They love soybeans.” That’s a common ...

which has led to an increase in the deer population. That makes it harder for forests to thrive, puts added pressure on crops like soybeans and corn, and can contribute to the spread of diseases.

Programs to help farmers in Pennsylvania are underutilized, and the state Game Commission is exploring ways to improve outreach on existing programs and create more options to address the problem.

That’s both good and bad. Evans got most of his harvest done the week of Oct. 12 on his small Saline County farm. He grows soybeans on about 150 acres.