In response to the storms and floods that have devastated homes and farms across Iowa, a coalition of the state’s farm and faith-based organizations is collecting donations with support from Farm Aid to provide emergency relief for farmers hardest hit by the weather, including farmers market vendors and other specialty crop producers. Iowa Farmers Union is a partner in the Iowa Farm Disaster Relief Coalition, a temporary collaboration of non-profit organizations and individuals who advocate for sustainable agriculture. Click here to visit the coalition’s website to apply or donate.
Midwestern family farmers have been hit with historic levels of storm and flood damage this spring. Without federal crop insurance, farmers who produce local foods for market are especially vulnerable. In a year when demand for locally grown foods is at its highest, many towns’ farmers’ markets have closed down due to flooding or product shortages.
“We have been hearing from family farmers all across the state who have been devastated by storms and flooding,” said coalition spokesperson Denise O’Brien, an Atlantic farmer. “We want to get assistance to these farmers as quickly as possible, and we thank our long-time friends at Farm Aid for helping us out.”
Click here to go to the coalition’s website. There you may make a donation or download the application form and guidelines to apply for assistance. Grants of up to $500 can be received to help offset household expenses, which are intended to free up funds to help farmers with replanting, repair, clean-up, etc.
The coalition so far includes the following groups and individuals: Buy Fresh Buy Local Iowa, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Network for Community Agriculture, Iowa Organic Association, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Women Food and Agriculture Network, Edible Iowa River Valley, Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, National Farmers Organization, Churches’ Center for the Land and People, Atlantic farmer and advocate Denise O’Brien and the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Nebraska which is serving as the project’s fiscal sponsor.