Farms to get funds for storm damage to equipment

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

State officials have announced a $5 million program to help farms replace mechanical systems and equipment damaged or lost due to tropical storms Irene and Lee.

The program provides funding for replacing with more energy-efficient equipment any electric and natural gas systems and equipment damaged during the storms. That could include equipment used for milk processing, cooling, heating and other farm operations.

The program is being administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority with money from the state Public Service Commission and assistance from the Department of Agriculture & Markets and Farm Bureau.

Money is available for equipment or systems purchased since Aug. 28 for sites affected by Irene, or Sept. 4 for sites affected by Lee.

The program will pay the full cost repair or replacement cost, minus any other aid payments or insurance proceeds, up to $100,000 per farm.

“The Agriculture Disaster Program will help [farms] rebuild during this challenging time using energy efficient equipment and systems, while at the same time reducing their energy costs,” said Francis Murray, president of NYSERDA.

Applications are available at http://nyserda.ny.gov for eligible farms or on-farm producers. The applications will be processed in the order in which they are received on a first-come, first-served basis until Dec. 15, or until the funding runs out.

For more information, applicants can call 1-877-NY-SMART.