For Colo. farms, floods could bring recharged soil

The powerful flooding that hit Colorado caused widespread damage to the state’s agricultural lands, but it also brought the promise of relief for a drought-stricken state.

Aerial footage shows big sections of inundated farmland, although it’s too soon to put a dollar amount on damages.

Ron Carleton, the state’s deputy agriculture commissioner, says areas of concern include damaged produce crops and irrigation ditches.

But benefits are likely to include recharged soils in drought-stricken areas. That will benefit next season’s plantings. The floods also may have refilled reservoirs that can help farmers next year.

The agriculture industry is Colorado’s third-largest, generating $8.5 billion last year.