June 19, 2008
Indianapolis Star
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's agriculture director says this month's flooding likely caused the worst agriculture disaster in state history.
Preliminary estimates show about 9 percent of the state's corn and soy bean crops were flooded. State Agriculture Director Andy Miller said Thursday that Indiana farmers could see more than $800 million in crop losses.
Photo: Farmer Bill Lentz, 50, stands in front of his cornfields in Columbus, Ind. Lentz believes about 85 percent of his 300-acre crop was destroyed by flooding. - Matt Detrich / The Star)
Farmers are also dealing with other losses, such as damage to their homes and machinery. Some fields have debris or silt in them, while others were eroded by floodwater rushing over them.
Agriculture officials are urging farmers to contact them to explore options for help, including federal aid and programs specifically geared toward farmers.
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