Thirteen Nebraska counties will get federal aid as part of recovery efforts following severe storms during the month of June. 

     The crop damage from those storms was called the worst in decades. That is, until last week. More than 45,000 acres were completely wiped out in that series of storms with 100,000 more damaged.

     Adjusters are still trying to come up with the exact number of acres wrecked in last week's storms. In Kearney, Buffalo, and Phelps Counties as well as some of Franklin County it's estimated as much as 60,000 acres were damaged. The biggest disaster, however, the time of year it happened.

     "This was a field of waist high beans a little over a week ago." Just one week ago, Lee Grove had high hopes for his beans. The weather had provided him one of the best looking crops he'd ever had. Then the skies changed. "This one started around the Elm Creek, Odessa area and headed basically to Hildreth. For me that's kind of unfortunate because that's the path that all my fields lay in," Grove said.
 
     Of 1,800 acres only one field escaped the storm. Grove says the rest are anything from tolerable to totaled. "This end of the field is a total loss."
 
     This isn't the first time this year we've heard someone say this. "100% loss here basically," said Randy Gangwish. After the June 5th storm bad weather prevented Gangwish from getting back in his field. This gave him time to think about leaving his crop in the field or replanting. "It keeps raining. So we keep having more time to let the crop grow out and see if it's going to come back," he told NTV on June 19th.
 
     This isn't an option for Grove. It's too late in the season to replant, making this one of the most devastating storms to date. "It's going to be a memorable night, July 22, 2009, because the timing of the storm. The way the crops are in the stages of growth. There's no going back," said Bernie Petska from Farm Credit Services of America.
 
     Now farmers have to decide what to do with what's left of their fields. "Ground like this behind me is ground that we're going to have to spend a little money on. Disc this up, plant a cover crop, keep the weeds down for next year," Grove pointed to his field.

     Many are still waiting to hear from their insurance companies. That will be the deciding factor on whether try to take the crop to harvest or plant a cover crop to help keep the weeds down.

Reporter's Notes by Laurie Dutcher:

Regardless, Grove will be out money. He can't just disc the field and be done. A cover crop or chemical spraying of the field is necessary to keep weeds under control.