Hurricane Irene Farm Relief Action

September 5, 2011

As many news outlets have reported, Tropical Storm Irene has had a major impact on New York State farms and dairies. Many agricultural businesses have suffered damage in the form of flooded fields, power outages, and broken infrastructure, all of these leading to failed crops, stunted production, and a very difficult season ahead for many regional farmers. Although NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a $15 million Agriculture and Community recovery fund to aid farms damaged by the storm, this will only go so far in covering the estimated $45 million in farm damages. These estimates however, may not account for crop and income losses for many upstate farmers. The Food and Drug Administration has released a notice prohibiting the sale of any produce for human consumption that has been exposed to flood waters.