JUNE 20, 2008 FLOOD NEWS CONFERENCE COMMENTS
Craig Lang, President, Iowa Farm Bureau

Thank you, Lt. Governor.  And thanks to you and the Governor for highlighting the importance of agriculture to this state, the country and around the world.  There is no question that all eyes are on Iowa and the Midwest as we attempt to get our arms around the extent of this devastation.

The Lt. Governor is right – we are still very early in this process.  Even though the flood waters are receding in some areas of the state, current estimates are that 3 billion dollars in corn and soybean crops were lost and another half a billion dollars are lost in livestock feed impacts.

When we talk about “feed impact losses” we’re talking about the costs of feeding cattle and hogs corn that now costs $1.50 per bushel more than it did before the floods.

Unfortunately, this will translate into increased prices in pork, beef and milk for consumers at the grocery store in 6 months to a year from now.

Farmers are already reeling from high energy costs, and Mother Nature has now exacerbated those challenges.

Make no mistake:  This is a disaster of historic proportions.

We need to continue to assess the damage so we can make the best decisions for a swift and successful recovery – and we will recover.  The ag community is working with state and federal agencies to help that effort along.   We will share more of those details with you in the days to come.

What we know today is that farmers, and the communities where they live across the state, are feeling the pain from this historic flooding.  In addition to high feed costs, livestock farmers are facing serious issues with feed availability.  As flood waters recede, grain farmers are facing flood affected grain issues, while rural Iowans may be contending with their own drinking water problems. 

We are just beginning to uncover the unknown impacts of this disaster for agriculture.  We encourage you to visit the Flood Resource section on iowafarmbureau.com to help you on your road to recovery.
But there are bright spots. In true form, Iowa farmers have quietly shown what ‘character’ is all about from corner to corner in this great state.

A farmer in Sidney, Iowa alerted townspeople that the nearby water treatment plant was in jeopardy by the rising Nishnabotna River.  He told them to cut the levee by his soybean field and flood it, so the water treatment plant would be saved.  They did – and the river flowed – right over his crop.
           
In Decorah, livestock farmers concerned for the safety of their town from the rising Upper Iowa River, brought in their manure pumps and hooked them up to the flooded streets. They ran their manure pumps, over 24 hours, and each cleared out over 200,000 gallons of water per minute.  This bought Decorah residents time to sandbag and save their town.
           
There are countless stories just like these that are rising above the Floods of 2008; stories of Iowans working together without being asked, without waiting, without being told.  This is the Iowa spirit.  That’s the kind of Iowa spirit we hope the nation remembers.
           
Thank you.


Click here for an audio clip of Iowa Governor Chet Culver. (Quicktime required)
Click here for an audio clip of Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Lang. (Quicktime required)

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