SPRING FLOODS AGAIN DAMAGE CROPS 



FOR the second consecutive crop 

 year, and in some cases the third and 



fourth, many farmers of Southern 

 Illinois are faced with the loss of an- 

 other good wheat crop, clover seedings, 

 and the expense of putting their farms 

 back in shape for planting 1944 crops. 



Recurrence of flood damage to small 

 grains is particularly discouraging be- 

 cause of the increased value of crops. 



In mid-May, Howard Leonard, state 

 director of the department of agricul- 

 ture, estimated that recent floods 

 ruined 90,000 acres of growing crops 

 at a total loss of 5 million dollars. He 

 said approximately 250,000 acres of Il- 

 linois farm land had been flooded with 

 75,000 acres of wheat and 10,000 acres 

 of oats destroyed. 



Last year's flood was more general 

 throughout the state, covering an esti- 

 mated 1,264,320 acres. Considerable 

 livestock and machinery were lost in 

 1943. This year the floods came earlier, 

 and the farmers in the danger areas re- 

 membered last year's experience and 

 moved their equipment and livestock 

 ahead of the levee breaks. 



A survey among .some of the coun- 

 ties that suffered the heaviest losses 

 brought the following summaries from 

 farm advisers: 



E. C. Secor, Randolph county, esti- 

 mated about 40,000 acres flooded in 

 his county, but damage was not as 

 serious as in 1943. Not much damage 

 was done in the Kaskaskia River bot- 

 tom. Practically all of it was in the 

 Mississippi bottoms. People moved 

 out ahead of the floods this year and 

 not a single tractor was lost. As soon 

 as the water recedes and the land be- 

 comes dry enough plowing and plant- 

 ing will start. 



A number will plant corn until too 

 late, then will continue to plant beans. 



One Jackson county farmer 

 figures his 100-acre stand of 

 wheat wasn't a total loss when 

 it was covered by flood waters. 

 Bill Guetterslau traded in his 

 second successive crop loss for 

 a haircut in a Murphysboro bar- 

 ber shop. His brother, Arthur, 

 traded his 50 acres of wheat 

 for a shave. 



An air view in the ricinityyof Prairie du 

 Bocher. Randolph county, snowa how the 



It is estimated that 50 to 60 per cent 

 of the land that gets out from under 

 water within a reasonable time will be 

 planted in either corn or beans. The 

 limiting factor, since this is the second 

 or third year for most in the bottoms, 

 will be finances. Damage was done to 

 some of the 8000 to 10,000 acres of 

 wheat, 4000 acres of barley, and 1000 

 acres of alfalfa. 



B. W. Tillman, farm adviser, re- 

 ported approximately 15,000 acres of 

 valuable crop land in St. Clair county 

 along the Mississippi River inundated. 

 About three-fourths of this is in wheat 

 which is a complete loss. Damage is esti- 

 mated at $700,000. 



Greene county experienced the sec- 

 ond disastrous flood in less than a 

 year's time in April and May. A sur- 

 vey showed a total of 2275 acres of 

 farm land suffered damage from over- 

 flow water of the Illinois River. In 

 1943 it was 30,000 acres. It is believed, 

 according to R. H. Roll, farm adviser, 

 that most of 625 acres of wheat and 

 other the flooded acreage will be re- 

 planted to soybeans and corn around 

 the first or middle of June. Due to 

 excessive rains, Greene county farmers 

 were only able to get about 60 per cent 

 of their oats acreage seeded. 



C. T. Kibler, Jersey county farm 

 adviser, reported that their principal 

 flood trouble came from the back 

 waters of the Missouri River. About 

 3000 acres of small grains and alfalfa 

 were destroyed by flood waters and ap- 

 proximately 4000 other acres which 

 may not be planted until late, if 

 planted at all. 



Mississippi River poured over Illinois and 

 Missouri {arm land. 



On May 18, Edgar S. Amrine, Mon- 

 roe county farm adviser, reported that 

 water was receding in the flood area 

 to the point where farmers could soon 

 get back to the homes. Some 550 farm 

 properties were inundated and 60,000 

 acres of land covered with from 2 to 7 

 feet of water. More than 30,000 acres 

 of wheat was lost in addition to 15,000 

 acres of other crops. Some 20,000 

 acres of intended corn plantings were 

 delayed for at least 30 days. 



Amrine also said that "farmers are 

 in a much worse condition than last 

 year due to loss of two good wheat 

 crops and the use of surplus funds last 

 year to get back into production and 

 the expense of repairs, loss of pastures 



■i 



A. W. Scott, 86, Greene county, (left) 

 owner of the land adjacent to the levy, 

 looks over the flood waters with R. H. 

 Roll, Greene county iann adviser. The 

 water finally went over the levy and 

 flooded 1500 acres of land to the right. 



L A. A. RECORD 



and clover 

 expected a 

 of the 1943 

 ning to wo 

 for them." 



J. G. IM 

 adviser, esti 

 land floode 

 land with ] 

 wheat, wini 

 On May IS 

 were startii 

 there was 

 labor and e^ 



Practicall; 

 within 10 

 has some li 

 cows are be 

 for their k« 

 are anxious 

 but are hai 

 finance and 

 flood as of 1 



The farm 

 in Jackson 

 the flood fc 

 due to the 1 

 Levee. The 



:l 



com 



CONSIDEl 

 made in 

 in the form 

 Home Burea 

 rural school 

 survey made 

 Of 54 Coi 

 on a questio 

 their rural < 

 indicated th 

 formed, and 

 discussions h; 

 counties rep( 

 planned. In 

 reporting, ao 

 the Farm Bui 

 haps other 

 committees, 

 the Record 



Counties 

 been set up 

 Champaign, 

 wards. Ford, 

 Daviess, Kn 

 coupin, M a 

 Mason, McE 

 Piatt, Pike, 

 White, and 



The 16 cc 

 mittees were 

 Bond, Clarli 

 Grundy, H( 

 Lean, Ogle, 

 Vermilion, "^ 



Clark coil 



JUNE. 1944 



