Heavy Rains in South Carolina have led to a Disaster for Agriculture

Fields in South Carolina have been submerged by recent torrential rains, causing concern for many area farmers
Fields in South Carolina have been submerged by recent torrential rains, causing concern for many area farmers

Recent torrential rains that have soaked much of the Southeast, submerging fields and wiping out crops, have drawn comparisons to a natural disaster from South Carolina’s governor, according to a recent Star Tribune article.

The wet fields have led farmers to begin to worry, as typical harvest dates have been pushed back and yields have been cut, leaving them concerned they won’t have enough livestock feed to get them through the winter months. According to the article, Nikki Haley, South Carolina’s governor, toured an area damaged by rains Monday, leading her to say, "In a hurricane you see the damage. In a tornado you see the damage. This is at the same level. This is a disaster for the state of South Carolina.”

According to the article, crop damage has exceeded 30% in 36 of South Carolina’s 42 counties, leading Haley to write to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with a request that the state be declared a disaster area. This would not be a rare occurrence in 2013, as earlier in the summer, 24 Wisconsin counties were designated as disaster areas by the USDA due to losses suffered during harsh weather.

Submerged crops and devastated fields caused by torrential rains in the Southeast have led South Carolina’s governor to believe the area is in disastrous condition for agriculture, comparable to other natural disasters, according to the Star Tribune article.

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