Heavy summer rain has wrecked a big share of Miaoli's chrysanthemum crop, and farmers are now getting cash aid to cover the loss — bad news for growers, softened by government payouts.

• Repeated heavy rain and typhoons in June and July flooded the fields, rotting the roots so plants yellowed and dried out weeks later.
• Around 25 hectares are damaged with losses averaging 30%, worth several million NT dollars.
• Tongluo Township grows most of Taiwan's domestic chrysanthemum, so the damage hits the main production area hardest.
• Farmers can claim NT$120,000 per hectare — NT$100,000 from the central government plus NT$20,000 added by the county.
• Growers worry the autumn winds after Mid-Autumn Festival will do more damage before November's chrysanthemum festival.

Outlook: More plants that still look green are expected to wither in the coming weeks, putting this year's harvest and festival at risk.