Floodwaters Damage Thousands of Acres

NASHVILLE—Unrelenting rainfall in West Tennessee has pushed the Mississippi River from its banks and tens of thousands of acres of farmland are now under water. This week Commissioner of Agriculture Julius Johnson, Deputy Commissioner Jai Templeton, and federal, state and local officials will visit Lauderdale and Dyer Counties to get a first-hand look at the damage.

According to the National Weather Service, the Mississippi River is almost four feet over flood stage and it isn’t expected to crest until later this week. Tributaries are high too, and that water is being pushed into farmland. At particular risk is the soybean crop. Soybeans are Tennessee’s leading commodity, valued at nearly $900 million in 2013. Dyer County leads Tennessee in soybean production. Lauderdale County is third on the list.

The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner will be joined by Sen. Ed Jackson (R-Jackson), Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley), USDA Farm Service Agency officials and county leaders for the tour.

All members of the media are invited to attend.

WHO:     Commissioner Julius Johnson, Deputy Commissioner Jai Templeton, Sen. Ed Jackson, Rep. Craig Fitzhugh and government and agency leaders
WHAT:    Tour of flooded farmland in Lauderdale and Dyer Counties
WHEN:   Tuesday, July 7 at 3 p.m.                                 Wednesday, July 8 at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE:  Farm Service Agency Office                           Farm Service Agency Office
                 301 Lake Drive                                                   400 Community Park Road
                Ripley, TN  38063                                               Dyersburg, TN  38024