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Governor surveys flood damaged farms

Governor Mike Pence traveled parts of Indiana yesterday to get a first-hand look at the flood damage.

While touring northern Indiana – Governor Pence says he saw devastating crop damage from the recent record rainfall.   “Seeing is believing,” he says.  “Some of the estimates are now putting crop losses north of $700 million.    It’s easy to believe when you see how these fields have been compromised and you hear directly from dozens of farmers.”

Pence tells Brownfield as he talked to farmers around the state there is a huge concern about the magnitude of losses and the long-term effects to the farms.

He says the state is working to evaluate the scenario and decide if they can and will pursue a disaster designation.  “At this point – as of June 30, nine counties have submitted crop reports to Indiana’s Farm Service Agency,” he says.  “At the end of the month – none of those had reached the threshold of 30 percent that would put us in a position for a disaster declaration.”

However, Pence says as more information is turned in to the local offices that threshold will likely be met.