CITIZEN ALERT! Help flooded farmers: survive now, rebuild later

Re-building their farms will come later, but for now farm families in the storm- and flood-stricken areas of the Upper Midwest and Heartland need emergency help just to keep their households operating and their families’ basic needs met.

A dozen Iowa farm groups came together this week to help as many farming families as they can. They’ve appealed to Farm Aid to assist them with funding, and have agreed to set up a steering committee to allot the money as quickly and fairly as they can in grants of up to several hundred dollars. Farm Aid relief funds will be distributed by farm groups in other states, as well.

“All over the state, especially in the south and east, entire farms were flooded—some to the treetops,” said Leigh Adcock, interim executive director of the Women, Food and Ag Network, Ames, and spokesperson for the coalition of groups. Many market farmers lost their crops, their markets, the ability to harvest and probably the window to replant, she said.

The first round of donations will help with food, utilities, water, transportation—basic survival needs to keep the families and their farms together.  To stand with these devastated families, donate now through Farm Aid. Start by clicking here.