Local farmers assess recent flood damage

Bourbon County, Kan. -- Severe flooding that struck various parts of Kansas the last couple of months not only closed roads, highways and some businesses, it also affected a major component of the state and local economy; the farming industry.

Bourbon County farmer Joe Ludlum, who owns about 2,500 acres of pasture and cropland in the southwest portion of the county, said his land did not sustain much damage from the high water, but constant rainfall over a week-long period caused extensive damage to his wheat crop. Flooding also slowed the planting of many of his other crops, including corn and soybeans, but Ludlum said the biggest loss he incurred was to his wheat crop, which had already been damaged from freezing cold winter temperatures that occurred in the region in early April.

Ludlum said he also owns and manages livestock and about 400 acres of crops.

Another local farmer, Darrell George, said he owns about 400 acres of corn and 400 acres of soybeans on a farm just north of Uniontown, as well as some land just south of the town. George said he owns part of the land himself, while he rents the remainder from his brother, with whom he also farms.

George said many of his crops were under water after the floods, including about 45 acres of clover, and that he hasn't yet assessed the damage.

"The water ran over it, and it (clover) was matted down and dried up," George said. "I don't know the extent of the damage on it, because I haven't been out there to inspect it."

While some rain each year make farmers happy and is healthy for crops, some of those farmers may be asking themselves how much rain is too much.

"When the river gets up, that's when it's too much," George said. "If you've farmed long enough, you