Local farmers offered assistance

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Local farmers are being given a few options as far as damaged crops are concerned.

Following the floods, many fields were left in ruin. Some can be replanted, some will have reduced yield and some are just destroyed. However, relief programs are becoming available.

County executive director for Farm Service Agency Roger Bailey said two programs are currently available.

The Rockville Farm Service Office offers low-interest loans for farmers who can't acquire other outside loans. To contact the Rockville Office, call (765) 569-2028.

The other option is the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). The ECP is for farmers who have not have significant flood damage three times in 25 years.

To sign up, go to the Farm Service Office in Greencastle at 1007 Mill Pond Lane and just ask for the program between June 23 until July 11. They can also be reached at 653-5716, Ext. 111.

Corn was the hardest hit. Around 18,000 acres of corn were either damaged or completely destroyed.

"It's really too late to replant corn," Bailey said. "What wasn't destroyed will have a reduced yield. Some fields will be replanted to beans."

Beans had a smaller number of acres affected. Only around 7,500 acres were damaged or destroyed. Beans can still be replanted though because they are still in planting season, unlike corn.

Since Putnam County has been declared a federal disaster area, more programs may become available. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a list of resources available on their Web site at www.USDA.gov and clock on "Midwest Flood Response and Recovery Assistance and Resources" on the home page.

Purdue University's Extension Office also has a list of resources and information available at www.extension.purdue.edu/eden/disastertopics/floodstorms/index.html#fieldcrops or just got to www.extension.purdue.edu/eden/disastertopic/floodstorms/ and scroll down to "Field Crops."

Lastly, Indiana Department of Agriculture has an overview of assistance available to farmers as a result of the flooding emergency at www.emegency.in.gov/agriculture .

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