2020's Destructive Derecho

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A hurricane-like derecho started in southeast South Dakota and northeast Nebraska and ripped across parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana -- lasting 14 hours and traveling 770 miles on Aug. 10, 2020 -- leaving a trail of destruction at the worst possible time for farmers The storm hit with force and speed. That same week, DTN was doing a Digital Yield Tour with Gro Intelligence that used its powerful and modern yield modeling systems -- along with DTN's meteorology team -- to quickly track the wind path and help identify the worst-affected counties. It was clear this derecho would have a large impact on farmers and others who were affected by the destructive path.

This special Spotlight package shares DTN/Progressive Farmer coverage from the last year. DTNPF staff reached out to farmers, elevators, bin companies, etc. affected by the derecho to put into perspective the impact on farmers at the time and beyond. The following package includes stories on farmers trying to clean up the damage, what to do about insurance, how to rebuild bins and store grain, and how to deal with the challenges of trying to harvest damaged fields. DTN analysts also looked at how the derecho affected USDA crop production estimates and even basis and market prices for months afterward.

This page will be occasionally updated with the latest relevant stories.

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