News

Court says floods are U.S. Government responsibility

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Missouri River Basin farmers and landowners who have been frequently flooded in recent years.  Lead plaintiff Roger Ideker of northwest Missouri tells Brownfield he sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because flood frequency on the river has changed.

“The changes, we feel, were as a result of the management of the river,” Ideker told Brownfield Ag News Wednesday, “and the changes that the corps has made to the river has caused this recurrent flooding.”

The court agreed that the floods are the responsibility of the U.S. Government causing damage along the Missouri River in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.  Judge Nancy Firestone says the government will have to pay for the damage, which has been estimated to exceed $300 million.  Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst is grateful for the decision but expects appeals.

“A $300 million judgement is a pretty big two-by-four upside the head to tell the corps to start worrying about flood control,” Hurst told Brownfield, “I think it has to have a positive effect.”

The damage award will be in the next phase of the suit, which was filed four years ago.

AUDIO: Roger Ideker (6 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Blake Hurst (2 min. MP3)