Many Mo. farmers shut out of federal flooding aid

Some Missouri farmers whose land flooded last year say they are being left out of $215 million in federal disaster aid because they missed a deadline.

Farmers and communities had to apply for the aid by June 30, but many still had land under water then and couldn't do a required damage assessment. Water didn't recede from many farms in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri until late September or early October.

The money is part of $308 million in funding the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week. It is distributed through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program and meant to be used to clear drainage ditches, fix levees and structures and reshape eroded banks.

Officials couldn't say Friday how many farmers missed the chance to apply for the help.