|
POWELL – With many crops pounded to shreds, losses from a
hailstorm are expected to climb into millions of dollars, a longtime
insurance agent said.
The storm that struck the Powell Valley June 9 was the worst that
Larry French had seen in his 50 years.
Clients of the Farm Bureau Insurance salesman reported barley
fields that were a 100 percent loss and beet fields that were
completely defoliated.
Beans are being replanted but could wind up a total loss if a
killing frost arrives early, he said.
Western Sugar district manager Gordon Freide said that 7,620
acres of beets contracted to the company were damaged.
About 2,100 acres sustained heavy damage, which equates to 75
percent or more defoliation, he said.
Another 3,800 acres had medium damage, or between 25 and 50
percent defoliation.
Fields with heavy damage will likely lose about three tons per
acre, and overall losses will likely amount to about one ton an acre
over the 22,000 acres contracted, Friede said.
|