Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2007

Department of Agriculture Surveys Crop Damage in Hermann Area

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Today Gov. Matt Blunt sent Matt Boatright, acting director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, to Hermann, Mo. to assess the recent freeze damage that has occurred in the last week. Matt Boatright was joined by Tim Kelley, executive director of Missouri Farm Service Agency, and Jim Anderson, executive director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, in touring area vineyards, a peach orchard and visited a wheat producer. Agriculture officials were also accompanied by Representative Tom Loehner and representatives from Gov. Blunt’s office, Congressman Kenny Hulshof’s office and Senator Kit Bond’s office.

“Producers across the entire state have been affected by the recent freeze damage and the Hermann area was a clear representative of the types and extent of damage that we are looking at,” said Matt Boatright. “We saw true devastation to our fruit and specialty crops as well as wheat fields and we are concerned about how this is going to economically impact our producers.”

During the survey, agriculture officials met with Jon Held with Stone Hill Winery, Paul Leroy and Brian Haddox of Hermannhof Winery, Larry Bock and Tim Wright of Buckridge Peaches, Tim Puchta of Adam Puchta Winery and Dennis Engemann and Tim Engemann, wheat producers near Rhineland, Mo.

“Many of the producers were optimistic about the future although many have lost much of this year’s crops,” said Boatright. “We hope that these producers will be able to continue their optimistic views in the days ahead. We should have a better understanding of the extent of devastation in the coming days and months.”

For more information regarding the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit www.mda.mo.gov.

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