HOPE, N.D. — Mother Nature has made life difficult for farmers this year.

Tornadoes and straight-line winds wiped out many fields in June, and heavy rain and frost made things worse as the crop season arrived. For many farmers, the loss of fields means a loss of revenue.

Tony Richards, treasurer and director of the North Harvest Bean Growers Association, said the impact has been devastating.

"Honestly, it's just sad. It's ... it's kind of depressing," Richards said.

Richards said he will not know the full damage until harvest, but he can already see the significant losses.

"I really don't know until we combine it, but I can look at this right now and tell you, we've got a significant loss," Richards said.

He is one of countless North Dakota farmers who lost crops by the acre because

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