Program Aims to Help Flooded Farmers

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The federal government is making $3.6 million available through a conservation program to help Upper Midwest farmers and ranchers who have flooded land.

The funding is being made available through the Water Bank Program, which gives landowners annual payments over 10 years to protect wetlands and adjacent farmland. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven says it will help farmers affected by flooding — particularly those in regions with chronic flooding, such as the Devils Lake area in North Dakota.

The federal Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service is taking applications through April 18 from producers in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

NRCS Chief Jason Weller says the effort will help with flood control while also keeping water on the land to benefit waterfowl.