Nebraska City farmer: 'This is something that could run me out of business'

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>> THE WATER JUST RECEDED HERE YESTERDAY. ANDREW: A MUDDY AND COSTLY MESS FOR DAVID EATON, AFTER THE MISSOURI RIVER FLOWED THROUGH HIS FARM JUST NORTH OF NEBRASKA CITY. >> AS THE WATER GOT HIGHER, THAT BIN JUST KIND OF RIPPED OPEN AND OPENED UP LIKE A POP CAN. ANDREW: OTHER BINS ARE STILL IN THE WATER, SPILLING CORN. THE LOSSES IN BOTH GRAIN AND BUILDINGS COULD BE STAGGERING. >> WHEN YOU START TRYING TO TAKE A LOSS LIKE THIS, IT’S UNHEARD OF. YOU KNOW? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD RUN ME OUT OF BUSINESS. ANDREW: A FARM HIS FAMILY HAS OWNED FOR 152 YEARS. >> 2011 WAS UNHEARD OF HERE ON THIS PLACE, AND NOW IT’S EVEN WORSE. ANDREW: EATON SAYS THE WATER GOT THREE FEET HIGHER THAN IN 2011. MUCH OF HIS FIELDS AND PASTURE ARE STILL UNDER WATER. >> THIS IS FIELD CLEAR TO THOSE TREES. ANDREW: REHABING HIS FIELDS SO HE CAN FARM WILL ALSO BE EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING. >> YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T FARM A SAND DUNE. ANDREW: EATON LOST HALF OF HIS CROPS TO FLOODING LAST SUMMER, TOO. HE IS FRUSTRATED THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS DIDN’T RELEASE MORE WATER FROM THE DAMS UP RIVER EARLIER IN THE WINTER. >> THAT’S WHAT THOSE STRUCTURES ARE FOR. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD MORE WATER. IT’S FLOOD CONTROL. ANDREW: FOR NOW, EATON HAS TO WAIT FOR THE WATER TO RECEDE MORE BEFORE HE CAN SALVAGE WHAT GRAIN HE CAN. ANDREW OZAKI, KETV NEWSWAT

Advertisement Flood losses to farms and ranches could top $800million Nebraska City farmer: 'This is something that could run me out of business' Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Historic, widespread flooding could cost Nebraska farmers and ranchers more than $800 million in losses to livestock operations and crops, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday.David Eaton said the losses to his farm just north of Nebraska City, could be staggering."When you start trying to take a loss like this, it's unheard of. This is something that could run me out of business," Eaton said.He said the floodwaters from the Missouri River rose 3 feet higher than in 2011."2011 was unheard of here on this place, and now it's even worse," Eaton said.One grain bin with soybeans inside split open."As the water got higher, that bin just kind of ripped open and opened up like a pop can," Eaton said.Two other bins are still in water. One is spilling corn."This isn't insured for flood. You can't insure it," Eaton said.Water is still covering most of his fields and pastures.Rehabilitating the land so he can farm again will also be expensive and time-consuming."If it brought in another several feet of sand like it did in 2011, we have to push all that off because you can't farm a sand dune," Eaton said.He said his family has owned the land for 152 years.He lost half of his crop to flooding last summer, and he is frustrated the floods seem to be getting worse."The flooding never used to be like this. It's terrible," Eaton said.He questioned why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn't release more water from the dams upriver earlier in the winter. "That's what those structures are for. They are supposed to hold more water," Eaton said.On Friday, Col. John Hudson, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said they were releasing 60,000 cubic feet per second from Gavins Point Dam.He said the problems were compounded by record runoff from other waterways."It's not just Gavins Point Dam. Below Gavins Point. you have James River, flood stage, significant challenges there. You have the Big and Little Sioux, which are providing a lot of inflow into the river. All of that is above Omaha. And then you have the Platte, which has near-record flows as well," Hudson said.Eaton said he needs to get the grain out of the bins to keep it from spoiling, but he has to wait for the water to recede more so he get can get trucks in to haul the grain."Luckily, I've worked hard all my life and we've gotten ahead. Well, this is going to take me back down. I'll have to borrow money like I'm just starting out to get by this," Eaton said.The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has set up a hotline: 1-800-831-0550, for farmers and ranchers in need and to get donations for help. The Nebraska Cattlemen Association has set up a relief fund on its website. A rural response crisis hotline: 1-800-464-0258, is available to help producers deal with stress and get emotional support.