Blunt seeks county flood damage assessments from FSA

On Tuesday, Gov. Matt Blunt asked Tim Kelley, executive director of the Missouri Farm Service Agency, to begin conducting damage assessments in counties affected by excessive moisture and flooding that caused rivers and tributaries to overflow their banks.

"Many Missouri farm families have been affected by the flooding and it has resulted in catastrophic crop damage, extensive delays in planting and economic hardships for our producers," Gov. Blunt said. "I have asked Mr. Kelley to begin evaluations in 62 counties, some of which reached record or near record water levels."

Counties included in the request for reliable evaluations are: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, DeKalb, Franklin, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Jefferson, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Monroe, New Madrid, Newton, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Platte, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Vernon and Worth.

"Missouri farm families have been seriously affected by the recent flooding event. After taking the opportunity to speak to many producers in northeast Missouri and viewing the devastation to crops and farmland, we understand that true economic challenges that many farmers will be up against this year," said Don Steen, director, Missouri Depart-ment of Agriculture.

"The Department will continue to work with the Missouri Farm Service Agency and other officials to ensure we can do everything we can to help farmers in need."

This request includes agriculture related damage and is in addition to damage assessments already under way in the affected counties regarding damages to property and infrastructure.