Over the Independence Day weekend, communities on the Hi-Line were hit by ferocious hail and powerful winds.

The storms knocked out power to thousands of people, downed trees and utility poles, dropped large hail, and damaged buildings and structures in Hill County, Liberty County, Chouteau County, and other areas.

In Havre the signs of damage were everywhere but after the streets and yards of town were cleared, a greater damage remains for many farmers whose fields were flattened.

Nicole Gray, Hill County Extension Agent, said "Some of them have taken other precautions such as hail insurance crop yield insurance for example are just a couple to name that do help out farmers a little bit but of course they're not going to recoup their entire loss. But with a drier year than normal some producers were hit with a one two punch."

Farmer Ryan McCormick said, "Many producers who do typically carry hail insurance weren't carrying it this year because the value of the crop wasn't as significant as we've seen in recent years, and so they will feel a greater economic loss."

With early season storms, crops have a good chance of recovery and regrowth, but getting hit this hard this late in the season is a big blow for everyone.

McCormick said "We were really close to harvest and it's always tougher when you're really close to getting harvested and getting that wheat money in the bin."

The damage to fields is clear but the financial impact could go far beyond the farmer's bottom line.

McCormick said, "The field behind me was actually contracted with a local seed company so that's actually lost revenue for them, which also turns into in the end-loss revenue for main street. I think that's probably part of the story that isn't seen in the field it's not impacting just farms it's impacting the region."

Source - http://www.krtv.com/