Assessing the floods’ toll
Bill Hunter drives his tractor through the floodwaters in Annada, Mo. His family owns 1,000 acres that are now under water. “We went from drought to this,” Hunter said. “it’s a mess.” (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
In Elsberry, Mo., farmers start their day at Rachel’s Restaurant. Steve Gray, left, 47, lost 800 acres of corn and beans. Bob Burkemper, 64, said he was fortunate that he hadn’t yet planted his 600 acres of corn and soy. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Bob Burkemper’s nephew Andy, left, lost 1,300 of his 1,400 acres of corn and wheat, and he expects he’s lost at least $750,000 in projected revenue this year. Im gonna have to do a lot of work with my banker, he says. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Thousands of acres of farmland are under water along the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. Barges and trains are stalled, and many towns are isolated by the floodwaters, so some economic fallout seems inevitable, but it’s unclear how far it will go. A month of sunny weather could be a tremendous help. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Thousands of acres north of St. Louis remain submerged. On Thursday, the Rural Mainstreet Index, a monthly survey of more than 200 bank CEOs in 10 Midwest states, found that more than 41% said they expected the recent floods to have a significant impact on Americas heartland economy. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Bill Hunter walks past some of his submerged acres in Annada, Mo., toward a section of the family property that sits on higher ground and remains workable. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
