DELAWARE - The rain apparently came just a little too late. That's according to local farmers who say the damage goes way beyond crops and will inevitably effect the poultry industry.
"Poultry is a major driver of the economy," said Larry Hill, owner of Peninsula Poultry. "That's really going to be tested in the next months."
Weather hasn't been kind to the agriculture industry. Even with the recent storms that put Sussex County under water, there's no saving the corn crop, which is making poultry farmers, like Larry Hill, really feel the burn.
"The grain prices, where they are, the corn prices being $8.50 - fluctuating around - that is certainly going to help with that situation. But there is a downside: and that downside is what it's doing to the poultry industry."
Hill said consumers will be shelling out more for meat. But in the meantime, state officials are asking the USDA to help local farmers in need. Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) says Congress could also do their part by passing the Farm Bill.
"Federal government with the taxpayers subsidize at least, to some extent, the price of crop insurance," he said. "It helps make sure that the farmers recover as much as 85 percent of their lost revenue."
The bill passed in the Senate. Now it is up to the House to make the final decision.
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