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Nebraska ag losses from flooding estimated close to $1B

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Farm Bureau president says farm and ranch losses to the devastating flooding could reach $1 billion in the state.

Photo courtesy: http://www.canstockphoto.com

President Steve Nelson estimates $400 million on crop losses because of crops that will be planted late — if at all. He also estimates up to $500 million in livestock losses as the state struggles with swollen rivers and breached or overtopped levees following heavy rain and snowmelt.

He told the Omaha World-Herald , “That gets us close to a billion dollars. I would not be surprised to see the lost agriculture numbers go over a billion dollars. …”

Agriculture amounts to 20 percent of the state’s gross domestic product and provides one of every four jobs.

He says flooding is costing the state’s cattle industry $1 million a day in costs that usually aren’t covered by insurance.

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