Report Shows Wisconsin Organic Vegetables Growers Were Left Stranded After 2007 Floods

The Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rod Nilsestuen announced on February 29 that he has received a report from the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council assessing the impact of summer flooding on vegetable farmers and recommending steps to mitigate losses in the future. 



The report estimates more than 400 fresh market vegetable farmers in 14 counties were affected, including both organic and conventional farmers. Total losses may exceed $15 million, the report said. 



"Fresh market vegetable growers in southern Wisconsin were hit hard by record rains during August 2007," said Secretary Nilsestuen. "This disaster uncovered holes in the risk-management safety net that need mending." 



The report raised concerns about the limitations of crop insurance and the need for risk management education for vegetable growers. 



"The August flooding came at a time when some of the highest value crops, such as tomatoes and peppers, were at the peak of their harvest," the report said.

The available crop insurance programs were not designed for fresh market farmers who often grow more than 50 different crops during the season. As a result, most growers were not insured. 



The report also highlighted the need for grower education in food safety and post-harvest handling of food crops. 

Crops touched by contaminated flood water must be discarded for food safety.

"In the aftermath of the flooding, we had many calls from growers with questions about handling their flood damaged crops," said Bonnie Wideman, an organic certifier and member of the Organic Advisory Council. 



Fourteen counties were declared a presidential disaster in response to Governor Doyle's request for expedited federal assistance on Aug. 23. The assistance provided help for homes, businesses and infrastructure. The federal Farm Service Agency was able to provide an emergency loan program so those affected could apply for low interest loans to cover physical or production losses associated to the disaster event. 



"We are all working together to make sure our fresh market farmers do not fall through the cracks if another disaster should occur," said Laura Paine, DATCP's organic specialist. 



Current efforts by DATCP, FSA and the Organic Advisory Council to help fresh vegetable growers better manage risk include: 



-A risk-management workshop, 8:30 - 3 p.m., March 11 at the University of Wisconsin-Richland.

"We will cover record keeping, crop insurance, financing and debt restructuring, and equipment modification - all important aspects of risk management," said Kathy Schmitt, event coordinator.

Farmers can call the Farm Center at 800-942-2474 for more information. 



-The FSA has one crop insurance program available to vegetable growers. The 2008 Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP) deadline is March 17 for spring seeded crops. Growers are urged to contact their local FSA agency to learn about NAP. 



-Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR-Lite) insurance policies are also available to vegetable growers. AGR Lite policies are available through private crop insurance agents and are reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. Policies are based an entity's historical annual gross revenue from their farming operation. The 2008 deadline is March 15. 



-Work to streamline crop insurance programs for fresh market farmers and encourage more farmers to buy insurance. 



-Education for growers about the good agricultural practices program, or GAP. GAP provides education and certification in post-harvest handling for vegetable growers. 

The Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council was created by Governor Doyle in 2004 as part of the Grow Wisconsin plan to create jobs.

Wisconsin ranks second in the nation in number of organic farms. According to the 2002 Agricultural Census, Wisconsin's fresh market vegetable growers ring up more than $29 million in sales annually.