Flooded Gardens & Crops

The following fact sheets address the safety of consuming produce from home gardens that have been flooded, as well as whether it is safe to continue gardening on a flooded site after the waters subside. 

"Safely Using Produce from Flooded Gardens" (220kb PDF) from the University of Wisconsin-Extension covers how to determine whether your garden produce can safely be consumed or should be discarded.

The South Dakota Extension Service publication, "Flooded Gardens" discusses whether and how to salvage garden produce, and  also whether to plant on previously flooded land.

More at: http://eden.lsu.edu/Topics/Hazards/Floods/Recovery/Pages/Agriculture.aspx

For Agricultural Producers

"Agricultural Issues After a Flood" on the national EDEN website includes resources on soil issues, farm buildings & property, livestock, and fruit & vegetable crops.

"Dealing with Flooded Fields" from Cornell University addresses many of these issues for agricultural producers, and includes suggestions on cover crops to plant following a flood.

"Handling Flood Damaged Crops," prepared by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, covers how to handle stored or standing forage that has been flooded, included flooded corn crops.

"Information for Flood Damaged Field Crops"   from Purdue University Dept. of Agronomy includes an extensive list of links to help farmers make crop management decisions in the aftermath of flooding.

"Managing Flood Damaged Crops" from  Penn State Cooperative Extension has recommendations on whether or not farmers can harvest and market corn for silage or grain, and hay/pasture and other crops following a flood.

"Dealing with Flooded Berry Fields," by the Cornell University Berry Team, deals with both food safety and plant survival following flooding conditions.

Last updated January 17, 2023