Midwest Flooding Devastates Agriculture and Food Supply

The Midwest region of the United States has been hit by severe flooding, causing significant damage to infrastructure and farmlands. The historic scale and severity of the flooding have led to disaster proclamations for Illinois and Indiana, highlighting the need for policymakers to address the issue.

Flooding is not just a threat to roads and buildings but also to America's food supply and agriculture sector. The Midwest region produces over half of the nation's corn and soybeans, with over 40% of U.S.-grown corn used for ethanol production. When flooding disrupts Midwestern agriculture, the consequences can reach beyond the food system into America's energy systems.

Flooding also impacts soil quality and functions, potentially affecting crop growth and productivity in subsequent seasons. From 1989 to 2020, excess moisture was the fastest-growing cause of loss reported to the USDA Risk Management Agency, increasing in 97% of counties reporting. The costs of flooding for agriculture are substantial, with $10 billion in losses not covered by RMA programs in 2023.