Iowa farmers are figuring out how to bring in a harvest this year after a derecho storm destroyed 10 million acres of Iowa farmland. | Pixabay
Iowa farmers are figuring out how to bring in a harvest this year after a derecho storm destroyed 10 million acres of Iowa farmland. | Pixabay
Ten million crop acres, one-third of Iowa's crops, are estimated to have been severely damaged in last week's derecho storm.
Cornfields that once held towering stalks have been flattened and soybean fields have been damaged by hail.
As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, Gov. Kim Reynolds had issued disaster proclamations for 20 counties. This will allow state funds to be used to help with recovery and rebuilding.
Tim Bardole, a Green County farmer with 2,500 acres of farmland, estimates that he may be out $200 to $500 per acre, estimating that they might not have enough crop to fill their bins.
"It's been a tough couple of years to be totally honest with you," Bardole told We Are Iowa. "Sometimes it feels like one more nail in the coffin. It's at the point we're definitely just trying to survive out here. Your hope next year is going to be better. I said that last year and you know what? This is what I'm looking at now."
One Iowan perished in the storm. Thomas Rowland, 63, died after being struck by a tree while riding his bike outside of Cedar Rapids near Ely. One death was also reported in Indiana.
Damage was reported in Woodward, Marshalltown, Newton, Ames and more eastern Iowa cities. Three coronavirus testing sites were also heavily damaged. As a result, testing numbers are down.
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