The heavy rains and flooding over the weekend has caused significant damage to a number of crops. The level of damage is variable across the area, but if you had any flood water in crop fields you have some tough decisions to make. The photo at the right, taken after the 2006 flooding, reminds us of similar problems faced in the no so distant past.
First, we urge you to document damage to fields and crops by contacting the Farm Service Agency. You are strongly encouraged to take photos of damage. This information is critical in Federal Program decisions.
Next assess the extent of flood damage to fields and access roads that may need repair, and flood trash deposits that may need removal before harvest is possible.
Crop quality may also be impacted. Silt deposited on forage crops should be a concern for dairy and livestock farms. We have put a together a short fact sheet that will help you to make harvest decisions. Click here to open the PDF.
If you have damaged crops in Delaware County and have questions please give Paul or Dale a call at the Watershed Ag Program office, 865-7090, or Mariane a call at Cornell Cooperative Extension main office, 865-6531.
