NORWICH – Hurricane Irene left New York’s farm fields submerged in water, leveled crops and caused power outages that left dairy farmers unable to milk their cows. But Chenango County’s farms were, for the most part, spared.
“We don’t know the extent of it yet, but we definitely didn’t get it as bad as some of our neighboring counties,” said Brian T. Sheridan, executive director, of Chenango County’s branch of the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Some crop damage, such as fruits and vegetables, will be more immediately evident than others like corn or forage crops which may partially recover from the hurricane, experts say.
Broome, Otsego and Delaware counties are among the numerous New York areas included in a disaster declaration request initiated early this week by U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The disaster status declaration is needed for farms affected to access the disaster assistance program from FSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Small Business Administration.
Sheridan said he was uncertain which federal and state assistance programs will eventually roll out, but since Chenango County borders counties named in the status request, producers who have crop insurance should contact their agents to report crop losses for insured crops.
In general, FSA provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding or other natural disasters.
“I would like to remind Chenango County producers that whenever there are adverse weather conditions causing damage to their farms and cropland to immediately call the Chenango County Farm Service Agency Office at 334-3231 so that we may take the proper measures to document the damage and provide assistance,” he said.
The New York Farm Bureau is working with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Governor Cuomo’s office on attaining federal disaster declarations specifically for agriculture for the counties that need it.
“We’re telling our farmers to take photos, take notes and make sure they have a record even if they don’t know the full extent of the damage,” said Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau.
Farm Bureau is also hoping for quick restoration of ruined roads and bridges in rural areas where farms have daily transport needs for feed, fuel and milk hauling.
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand are urging the USDA to immediately approve disaster assistance so farmers across New York State can gain prompt access to the aid they need to recover and will work with state and local officials to expedite further declarations as more county data is made available.
Emergency loans may be made to farmers who:
• Own or operate land in a county declared a disaster area or a contiguous county;
• Are established family farm operators and have sufficient farming or ranching experience; have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in crop production or a physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate or chattel property;
• Have an acceptable credit history;
• Are unable to receive credit from commercial sources;
• Can provide collateral to secure the loan; and
• Have repayment ability.
“Whether it’s dairy farmers fighting to tend to their livestock in the face of power outages and property damage, farmers whose fields are underwater, or any other farmer that plays a pivotal role in our economy, one thing is absolutely clear – Irene has had a devastating impact on farms throughout New York,” said Schumer. “Our hardworking farmers deserve to have all available federal assistance at their back as they start to rebuild their farms and recover from this storm. In the coming weeks and months, I’m going to do everything I can to help our farmers get back on their feet.
After surveying cropland damage left in the wake of Hurricane Irene, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director James Barber encouraged any producer that sustained crop or farmland damage to contact their local FSA office.
“In a matter of hours, Hurricane Irene destroyed what it has taken many farmers a life time to build,” he said. “There is nothing that can make the farmers throughout New York whole again; however, ... our goal is to identify the need and provide farmers support to help them endure this disaster and hopefully rebuild their operations.”