The Mississippi River floods of 2019 wreaked havoc on numerous Midwestern cities and towns, including some towns along the river itself. But what about the crops that grew nearby in the rich Mississippi River Delta? Did the floods destroy them and crush the livelihood of the local farmers? The answer, unfortunately, is yes.
The Mississippi River Delta is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States, producing a wide array of fruits and vegetables. At the time of the flooding, the area had goldenrod, corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, and cotton crops, all of which were in their peak production season. Initial estimates of damage from the flooding report that over 15 million acres of farmland were affected, and estimated losses range widely from $800 million to over $4 billion.
In interviews with National Geographic, several farmers explain the magnitude of the destruction. One farmer described it as being like “an atomic bomb going off,” saying all the crops he had been working on for months were entirely wiped out. Another described the emotional toll the disaster has taken: “This loss will be felt for generations to come.”
The flooding in the Mississippi Delta was made worse by the extensive amounts of rainfall the region experienced this past spring. The flooding overwhelmed levees and other protective structures, ultimately creating an extremely hostile environment for farmers and their crops. Corn and soybeans, two of the crops most highly affected by the flood, were also affected by drought conditions earlier in the year, leading to a double-punch of extreme weather.
The aftermath of the disaster is still being felt by many farmers and agricultural workers in the region. One farmer told National Geographic that he expects it will take five to 10 years to rebuild his farm, as the soil suffered irreparable damage from the floodwaters. He says that damage has extended to the riverbank communities and beyond, as the effects of the disaster ripple throughout the region.
The US Department of Agriculture has attempted to step in and provide assistance to affected farmers, but the aid they allocate has not been able to make up for the large-scale destruction. The USDA claims to have distributed more than $3 billion in disaster relief to farmers throughout the country, but much of it has gone unclaimed—or been claimed but gone unused—due to the burdensome red tape and bureaucracy involved.
Despite the losses farmers have suffered, the National Weather Service says the flooding was not straight up destructive for every farmer in the region. In fact, some experts believe that in the long-term, the flooding could actually benefit farmers. While immediate losses will be substantial, the water created by the flood could lead to an improvement of the soil in the years to come. In addition, the flooding could help promote better water management in the region.
Regeneration of Crops Post Destruction
After the destruction, many farmers have managed to rebuild their cropping operations and even thrive, due in large part to the various government initiatives put in place to help farmers recover. For example, the USDA has implemented a number of grants and funding to help farmers rebuild their operations, and this has greatly assisted in the regeneration of crops post destruction. One such program is the Emergency Conservation Program, which provides grants to help farmers with the cost of conservation practices, such as fencing and tree planting, which help protect their farmland from flooding in the future.
In addition to this, the EPA has also implemented a range of initiatives to help farmers reduce their vulnerability to flooding. These include projects that reintroduce native aquatic species and plants to the region to help stabilize the soils during flooding and provide refuge for wildlife. They also provide financial incentives for farmers to plant cover crops, which can reduce soil erosion and improve soil health.
However, these initiatives have not been able to completely mitigate the effects of the flooding. Many communities are still struggling with loss of agricultural production and crop yields, with some farmers seeing up to a 10-fold reduction in production. Furthermore, some farmers are still in the process of rebuilding, and many face economic hardship, as it may take years before they are able to return to the production levels they had pre-flooding.
Economic Impact of Floods on Farmers
The economic impact of the 2019 floods was felt by farmers far and wide across the Mississippi River Delta. While the USDA has offered financial assistance to help farmers catastrophic losses, these funds are often insufficient, and many farmers face long-term financial hardship as a result. In particular, those farmers without insurance or access to federal crop insurance programs were particularly affected, as they were unable to receive compensation for their losses.
The floods also had an impact on consumer prices for produce. With a decrease in acreage due to destruction of production sites, producers are likely to face higher input prices due to reduced supply. This could lead to a shortage in produce and result in higher prices for consumers. In addition, due to the destruction of transportation infrastructure, many farmers have struggled to get their produce to market in a timely manner, leading to further price rises.
Furthermore, the 2019 floods have had an impact on the environment. Large amounts of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides used in production were washed away in the floodwaters, leading to water contamination and posing a risk to both human health and aquatic life. Many rivers experienced fish die off as a result of contamination and subsequent lack of oxygen.
Mississippi River Silt Build-Up
The floods had a damaging effect on the environment, but some scientists believe the destruction from the floods has created an opportunity for siltation to occur in parts of the Mississippi River. This is when sediment builds up over time, creating a thicker layer of soil that can help protect a region from future flooding.
To date, several projects have been proposed to stimulate siltation, from the installation of upstream control structures to the re-introduction of native species, such as mussel populations, which help drive sediment accumulation. The US Army Corps of Engineers has also proposed using beds of manure, tree logs and other organic materials to reduce the force of floodwaters, which could possibly promote silt accumulation.
While it is too early to tell the full extent of this phenomenon, some experts believe siltation strategies could offer a way to mitigate future flooding in the summers to come. It could therefore be a valuable tool in helping protect farmers and other residents of the Delta and reduce the impacts of future Mississippi River floods.
Lack of Interest in Farming
The 2019 flooding isn’t the only challenge farmers in the Mississippi River Delta have had to face. The region is also facing a long-term issue of people not wanting to pursue farming as a profession. This is due to the high cost of entry, a lack of available public resources, and the large amount of labor involved. Young people in particular have largely abandoned traditional farming in favor of the city lifestyle.
In order to combat this, many local initiatives have been put in place to help engage the youth in farming and preserve the agricultural industry in the region. For instance, many universities host educational classes to teach aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs about the business of farming, while other programs focus on the ecological aspects of farming, such as soil and water conservation.
There are also programs that work with elementary and high schools to introduce students to the concept of local and sustainable agriculture, such as the Red Tomato program, which partners with local farms to provide students with hands-on instruction. The goal of these initiatives is to spark an interest in the local youth and help create a new generation of farmers to take over the Mississippi River Delta.
Importance of Flood Resilience
Overall, the floods that hit the Mississippi River Delta in 2019 were devastating and have had long-lasting impacts on the local agricultural community. While there are some bright spots, such as emerging siltation strategies and engaging initiatives to invigorate the youth, the residents of the Delta still have a long path ahead of them to truly recover.
The most important takeaway from the floods is the importance of investing in resilience to future flooding. This includes improving levee systems, building up flood corridors, and implementing better water management practices to reduce the severity of future floods. In addition, there is a need to invest in the future of farming in the Delta, which includes creating incentives for young people to pursue a career in agriculture.
