Virginia’s agriculture industry took an estimated $60 million hit from the recent Hurricane Irene, and a significant portion of that included the state’s corn crop, according to the state’s agriculture reports.
Growers in the rural Peninsula and Western Tidewater counties suffered $9 million in losses and damages, mostly corn and cotton. “It was a total wipeout in some areas,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore. “It’s devastating for farmers.” Haymore said he expects the $60 million estimate to rise as more damage claims come through in coming weeks.
So far, more than 3,000 damage claims have come through Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance.
