NAFB-Submitted by Chad Smith-Audio provided by Stephanie Hoff, Mid-West Farm Report Radio Network, Madison, Wisconsin- Audio with Shawn Harding, president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau
(NAFB) What is it like having a hurricane hit your farm? Imagine floods so big it displaces your cattle. Imagine your crop leveled just as you were about to harvest. That’s the story from North and South Carolina.
Shawn Harding is the president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau. North Carolina was one of the states hit by Hurricane Helene, where crops and livestock were among the storm’s victims. Hurricane Helene did not hit Shawn’s strawberry farm, but he’s been fielding calls from members around the state who need help rebuilding.
He also says livestock agriculture got hit hard as well.
We know of dairy cows that were swept up in the water. Dairy farmers are trying to find their cows later on to make sure they were okay. So, it’s those kind of stories we’re hearing up in the mountains, and it’s heartbreaking, really.”
Harding says the Farm Bureau unfortunately has too much experience in helping people deal with recovery efforts.
Shawn Harding, president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau.
