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After the Flood
Spring Seeding Cover Crops to Help Recover Flood-Damaged Fields
Cover crops planted in late winter or very early spring can help barren, flood-damaged fields start to recover. Plant roots will anchor the soil, helping prevent sandblasing and wind and water erosion. The growing roots also will help feed the soil biological life, especially arbuscular mychorrhizae fungi.
Read more about using early-planted cover crops, including crop selection and seeding rates, seeding methods, and the importance of timely termination of the cover crop in a recent CropWatch article.
Farming after the Flood Webinar — Farmer Perspectives, Agency Resources
Learn about flood recovery resources and programs available through NRCS, FSA, RMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers in a multi-state webinar recorded December 14 and now available online.
Representatives of state and federal offices joined with university extension to offer a 2 1/2-hour webinar for farmers and landowners affected by the 2011 Missouri River flood. In addition to the government representatives, two farmers (one from Nebraska and one from Iowa) shared their experiences in repairing the physical and biological properties of their fields.
View the topics and presenters and listen to individual webinar segments.
Following are resources which may be helpful to reference as you review information from the program.
The webinar will be posted to the Web for later viewing and will be linked from this page.
Archived Webinar I: Flood Recovery for Cropland
The Webinar — Flood Recovery for Cropland — has been archived on-line and is now available in the following segments:
- Flood Information for Crop Lands Introduction — Rick Koelsch, UNL associate dean of extension
- Sedimentation and Debris Removal — Shawn Shouse. ISU Extension Agricultural Engineer
- Managing Post Flooding Soils — Mahdi Al-Kaisi, ISU Extension Soil Management/Environment Specialist
- Cover Crops for Soil Health — Paul Jasa, UNL Extension Engineer
- Flooded Crops, Insurance Payments, and Lease Contracts — William Edwards, ISU Extension Economist
- Webinar Q&A plus follow-up Q&A from all four speakers
To submit your questions to a panel of extension faculty and staff in Iowa and Nebraska, use the Ask an Expert link on this page.
For a list of viewing sites and local contacts, see related story.
ISU and UNL Fact Sheets on Post-Flooding Cropland
- Repairing Flood-Damaged Farm Fields
- Flooded Soil Syndrome
- Cover Crops for Soil Health
- Flood-Damaged Crops, Crop Insurance Payments, and Lease Contracts
Additional Resources
- Management Considerations for Post Flooding Soils (Nov. 8, 2011 CropWatch)
- From Devastation to Recovery — It's a Long Road for Flooded Farmers (Oct. 21-28, CropWatch photo story)
- As Flood Waters Recede in Southeast Nebrasaka (Oct. 10, 2011, CropWatch photo story)
Nebraska Department of Agriculture 2011 Flooding Information
USDA Farm Service Agency programs are available to assist with the impact and recovery from the floods. including the
- SURE program (PDF file, 346KB)
- Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance program (PDF file, 302KB)
- Emergency Conservation Program (PDF file, 125KB)
Flooding and Stored Grain, Iowa State University fact sheet
Agriculture Issues after a Flood, EDEN Extension Disaster Education Network
During the Flood
Pesticide Storage Concerns during a Flood - University of Florida - Cooperative Extension Service
Before the Flood
Flood Information for Farms & Ranches (NDSU) - North Dakota State University Flood Information
Special Considerations for Agricultural Producers - University of Florida - Cooperative Extension Service
Preparing to Evacuate Your Farm- University of Florida - Cooperative Extension Service
Floods and Crops - Iowa State University -The Center for Food Security & Public Health
Floods and Farm - Iowa State University -The Center for Food Security & Public Health
Ask an Expert
Ask an Extension expert from Iowa State University or the University of Nebraska–Lincoln about recovering cropland from flooding.
2011 CropWatch Articles on Flooding
June 24 CropWatch: Replanting to Forages after Storm Damage
June 17, 2011 CropWatch: Cedar and Knox Counties Eligible for USDA Emergency Loans
June 10, 2011 CropWatch: Assessing Flood/Hail Damage to Crops and Remedial Actions
June 9, CropWatch: Dixon, Dakota Counties Eligible for USDA Emergency Loans
June 8, CropWatch: FSA Outlines Emergency Livestock Use of CRP Due to Flooding
June 8, CropWatch:FSA Authorizes CRP Grazing for Flooded Ranchers
June 8, CropWatch: Nebraska FSA Extends Prevented Planting Reporting Date
June 8, CropWatch: Soybean Survival in Flooded Soils Depends on Many Factors
June 8, CropWatch: New Resources on Hail Damage to Corn, Grain Sorghum, and Soybeans
June 8, CropWatch: Nebraska FSA Extends Prevented Planting Reporting Date
June 3 CropWatch: NDA: Agricultural Producers Can Prepare for Flooding Now
May 26 CropWatch: How Corn Plants Respond to Flooding
May 26 CropWatch: Evaluating and Replanting Flooded Areas
May 26 CropWatch: After the Rain, Where's the Nitrogen?
May 26 CropWatch: Unintended Residue Movement Threatens Emerging Crops after Flooding
Net Radio stories related to the flooding Friday, June 3, 2011:
Within each story, NET includes Flood Links to some key flood information sources. The Army Corps of Engineers link includes the inundation maps that show the expected extent of the flooding.
Crops and Cropland information provided by: John A Wilson, Extension Educator, Northeast Research & Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Crops and Cropland information provided by: Lisa Jasa, Communications Specialist, University of Nebraska