USDA buys farm land to ease floods

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a large amount of money will go towards helping Vigo County prevent future flooding issues.

Within the $8.1 million in stimulus money, the federal government bought some farm land to help nearby land owners.

The government purchased these two plots of land along the white river in Knox County. The land belongs to local farmer Don Osborne.

The plan is for trees to be planted in the plots to slow down water and prevent further erosion.

Buying that land is part of the USDA reclamation of wetland areas, to prevent farmers from planting in wetlands.

"It's a good deal, I mean we hate to give up farm ground but on the other hand with today's economy it was ground you really had to struggle with," Osborne said.

In the agreement, Osborne had to give up some high elevation ground but was allowed to keep the rights to the property.