This week's dry weather has allowed many farmers to assess all their crops for damage from this month's severe weather. And, there's confirmation now on what many have feared: there's a significant amount of damage. Crop losses in Dane County account for nearly half of the total agricultural damage in Wisconsin from this month's severe weather. Emergency Management Director Kathy Krusiec says it has not been a good growing season so far for farmers in Dane County. "We had a very wet spring. So it was late getting into our fields for planting, then, just as crops were emerging, we got the torrential downpours that saturated our fields," says Krusiec.
Damage is widespread through the county. "It's not just one crop or another. We're looking at alfafa and corn and soybeans. All of those major crops have been hit hard." Agricultural losses in Dane County total more than $64 million, with the statewide total at nearly $147 million.