For Immediate Release: July 1, 2008
Ag Department Tours Flood Damaged Farmland in Northeast Missouri
Director of Agriculture Visits Four Counties
(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Today Gov. Matt Blunt sent Katie Smith, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, across parts of northeastern Missouri to assess the recent damage and crop loss caused by flood waters along the Mississippi River. Katie Smith was joined by Don Steen, newly announced director of MDA effective July 7, Tim Kelley, executive director of Missouri Farm Service Agency, Gene Danekas, director of Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service, Roger Hansen, state conservationist, Harold Deckerd, assistant state conservationist and other agriculture officials in touring farmland locations near St. Charles, Winfield, LaGrange and West Quincy.
"I asked the Department of Agriculture to view the flood damage to farms in northeastern Missouri and to visit personally with family farmers who were impacted by the flood waters," said Gov. Matt Blunt. "My recent announcement of approval of an expedited major disaster declaration will make individual assistance available to 22 counties in Missouri devastated from the flooding event. As waters recede, we will gain a better understanding of the livelihoods that have been affected and be able to offer assistance to Missouri farm families."
During the tour, agriculture officials met with producers and others in the communities interested in sharing their stories and showing the farmland destroyed by the flood event.
"Although definite acreage numbers are too early to predict, Missouri farm families have been seriously affected by this year’s flood. We saw firsthand the devastation to crops and farmland and now better understand the economic challenges that these farmers will be up against in the upcoming days and months," said Katie Smith. "After speaking to many of the producers and local leaders in the affected counties, we are continuing to assess the extent and level of assistance needed. We will continue to work with the Missouri Farm Service Agency and federal officials in offering assistance to these farmers."
The Missouri Farm Service Agency is collecting data from its county offices to determine the economic impact on those affected. The Missouri Department of Agriculture will continue to monitor the data collected and offer information once it becomes available.
For more information regarding the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit www.mda.mo.gov.
**Editor’s Note: Photos of today’s flood tour are available upon request. Please contact Misti Preston at (573) 751-8596 or Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov for more information.
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