The flood of May 2010 will long be remembered as one of Tennessee’s worst disasters with more than 13 inches of rain covering the region in two days. Lakes and rivers reached historic heights peaking 12 feet above flood level and causing the deaths of at least 24 people. While businesses and government go about cleaning up and reopening, local farmers are still waiting for flood waters to recede enough to determine the damage.
Yet, workers at the USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and UT Extension have not rested. They are helping to assess the damage in rural areas and working to educate farmers and make them aware of what FSA can do to get them operational again.
In a state where agriculture generates $51.4 billion a year, officials are holding meetings in affected counties to educate area farmers.
Mike Turner, FSA county executive director for Montgomery and Cheatham counties and Patrick Moore FSA farm loan manager, as well as Kevin Hart, Montgomery County District Conservationist and Phillip Wilson, Cheatham County district conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, conducted meetings in both counties to inform area farmers of help available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Turner, Moore, Hart and Wilson provided an overview of USDA programs available and answered questions from producers. Jane Polansky with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation also addressed the Cheatham County meeting, discussing the State’s plans to clean up the river banks and work with individual landowners to ensure debris is removed. Many producers used the opportunity as an open discussion to express their concerns about how to handle the challenges they face.
—by Tennessee FSA State Office
