NORWICH – About $125,000 in state aid is available to Chenango County agricultural businesses that were impacted by the severe flooding of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

The grant is in the form of a Farm Operations Match Program, which will match 100 percent of the investment made by area farmers to replace feed and lost crops. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced back in September the creation of a $15 million Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund to assist New York farmers impacted by flooding and to restore agricultural businesses in the counties most affected.

Though the amount allocated to each affected county was pre-determined by state government, each county had to apply for the grant money, said Donna Jones, director of Chenango County planning and community development.

“This is much needed assistance for farmers hardest hit by the storms,” she said.