Vegetable Farmers After the Derecho – Laura Krouse

Many Iowans have seen images of crumpled grain bins and vast corn fields flattened by the powerful derecho that struck Iowa on Aug. 10. But vegetable farmers were just as devastated by the storm, as its powerful winds – equal in places to a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane – pummeled high tunnels, shredded high-value specialty crops and damaged critical farm infrastructure, like packing sheds and walk-in coolers.

Laura Krouse of Abbe Hills Farm near Mount Vernon, Iowa shares her story of the derecho impacting her farm. Laura talks about losing both of her hoop houses, suffering damage to crops in the field and her chicken coop toppling over in the high winds.