Dear NOFA friends, After the flooding events of Hurricane Irene and Lee, we found ourselves really unprepared to deal with this kind of natural disaster in Massachusetts. With at least three separate events this summer - the June 1 tornado and the two hurricanes - we realize we need to get up to speed to deal with future potential events. We have put together a list of resources that we would like to share with you. We will also post this to our website for future reference, updating it as more information becomes available. This resource list includes information and websites for disaster victims, some help with soil issues and what to do after such events, and it also includes a list of organizations that concerned folks can donate to, and victims can apply to for financial help. Farmers have always had a special sense of community. We hope to be able to respond more quickly should future disasters befall us. Sincerely, Information for Growers:Farm Credit East Disaster Relief Program Updated November 16th Enfield, Conn. - Farm Credit East announced today that it has joined with CoBank, Yankee Farm Credit and United Way of the Greater Capital Region to provide financial assistance for farm families hurt by the Irene and Lee disasters. The Farm Credit organizations will be providing donations of up to $500 to aid farm families during the holiday season. For more information visit their website: www.farmcrediteast.com. The entire press release can be found here. To be eligible, your farm must have experienced losses in excess of $10,000 as a result of Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee. Farmers who would like to apply for this support should complete the application form here and return it to Farm Credit East by November 26. Copy of the application can be found here MEMA Announces Applicant Briefings for Federal Assistance Communities from 5 Additional Counties Eligible for Aid for Tropical Storm Irene As a result of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts receiving an expansion of the major disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Irene, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will be conducting a series of Applicant Briefings, regarding the availability of federal funding for five (5) additional counties: Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth and Dukes Counties. These briefings will explain the reimbursement process for receiving federal funds for eligible expenses incurred by state and local governments, as well as eligible private non-profit organizations, for equipment, contracts as well as emergency and permanent work associated with the storm. These Applicant Briefings do not apply to individuals, residents or businesses. Communities are encouraged to send representatives from local emergency management, public works and finance departments since the briefings will explain the reimbursement process in detail. The briefings are expected to last approximately 1.5 hours It is imperative that communities send at least one representative to obtain the necessary forms and information to enable each community to receive proper reimbursement. Private non-profit organizations located in these counties may be eligible to receive federal reimbursement for their expenses. In order for a private non-profit to be eligible for reimbursement, it must be performing an essential government service and have incurred a minimum of $1,000 in eligible expenses. To assist in identifying an eligible private non-profit, please refer to the FEMA website at www.fema.gov or contact the MEMA Disaster Recovery Department at 508-820-2004. Application Briefing Schedule (Note: Communities can attend any briefing. It is not necessary that you attend the briefing in your county.) Friday, October 28, 2011 @ 10:00am Friday, October 28, 2011 @ 2:00pm Monday, October 31, 2011 @ 10:00am Monday, October 31, 2011 @ 2:00pm MEMA is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man-made. For additional information about MEMA and Flooding Issues, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Nine Massachusetts Counties Now Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance As of October 20, 2011, five more Massachusetts counties (Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Norfolk and Plymouth) are eligible to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) funding for response and recovery efforts due to damage and losses caused by Tropical Storm Irene from August 27 to 29. Nine counties are now eligible for PA. Four counties - Berkshire, Franklin, Hamden and Hampton - are part of the original presidential disaster declaration on September 3, 2011, that included Public Assistance for the Commonwealth. "FEMA Public Assistance dollars come to the community through a partnership of cost-sharing between the applicant, the state and the federal government," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Mark H. Landry. "FEMA picks up 75 percent of the eligible cost of putting a community back on its feet." Entities that may be eligible for PA include: Local and county governments; PA grants are available to cover eligible costs in seven work categories: A: debris removal For more information on FEMA's PA program at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm. CISA and partners launched the CISA Emergency Farm Fund, a revolving loan fund designed to help farmers recover from Hurricane Irene. The Fund will offer quick, zero-interest loans to assist farmers and farm businesses in the aftermath of the storm and flooding. Thanks to an anonymous donor who has put up a $50K match, CISA hopes to raise at least $100K for the fund, which will help farmers now and in the future. For more information about the fund, how to donate or apply for a loan click here. UMass Extension Vegetable Notes Sept 1 2011 Growers are picking up in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. Across the state the impact ranges from total devastation of fields and the crops in them and loss of farm infrastructure due to huge flash floods, to moderate rains and winds that left crops close to their pre-storm conditions. Of course, in Irene's terms rainfall of 5 inches became 'moderate' (though some areas received significantly less than that) compared to the 11-13 inches that drenched hilltowns. As everyone is well aware, severe flooding occurred in tributaries of the Connecticut River from Connecticut into Vermont. In MA, Franklin, Hampshire and Berkshire Counties suffered the most damage. Some farms lost large portions of their fall harvest. See article below regarding post-storm options if you had flooding or ponding in your fields. In advance of the storm growers brought in as much of their mature winter squash and pumpkin crops as they could, and picked other crops that could be stored. Harvest of fall crops continues including onion, potato, squash, carrots, cabbage - although crops destined for storage, except for onion and winter squash, will wait for cooler weather. Fall-grown crops are on the increase, so there are plenty of crops that still have a lot of growing ahead of them. Crops that are small will need additional fertilizer after these rains. If possible, cultivate to aerate the soil and sidedress with your normal fertilizer applications for bare ground crops or inject through the drip for crops on plastic. If the crops on bare ground are too large to sidedress, consider foliar applications of Urea (9 lbs/100 gal of water at 50-100 gal/A) or other foliar feed. Continue your normal pest management programs, as diseases are likely to be more severe after the storm and insects are still active. Corn earworm flights are very high and will affect the late season corn that remains. Phytophthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotinia will be more prevalent after all these rains. Many growers across the state have fields that had flooding or ponding in the wake of hurricane Irene. Questions always arise as to what effect flood waters may have on the safety of crops. There is no easy answer. This article is a compilation of information from several sources to help growers understand how to report and seek assistance to mitigate crop losses, and how to decide what crops might be salvageable after the waters recede. Flooding vs. pondingFloods occur when water or runoff from surface waters such as rivers, lakes or steams overflows and runs into fields. Water from heavy rainfall that pools on the surface of saturated soils is NOT considered flooding and is therefore not bound by FDA restrictions and guidelines regarding flooded crops. If water puddles in a field due to high rainfall, the chances of contamination are minimal. Fields that were saturated with collected rainfall may suffer crop losses from several causes including plant death from being underwater or with roots in saturated soil, or outbreaks of plant disease. Diseases are most likely to develop from pathogens that bloom in wet soil and warm humid air such as Fusarium, Sclerotinia white mold, black rot of squash, or Phytophthora capsici, and where crops are in contact with soil. Flood waters are more serious because they are likely to contain contaminants. Contaminants may include: raw sewage, raw manure, agricultural or industrial chemicals, heavy metals or other chemical contaminants. Microbial pathogens that could be in flood waters include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These may come from upstream farms and rural septic systems, urban lawns, roadways, buildings and industrial sites, or overflow from municipal sewage systems. In flooded areas in the Connecticut River Valley and in the Berkshires, the periods when flooding was at its peak were also periods when municipal water treatment plants were overflowing and releasing sewage into the rivers. Likewise, water was also flowing over fields or barnyards with livestock. Thus E. coli contamination is a real threat in any flooded areas downstream. The word contaminated is often used but remember that this word means that the crop would be unsalable because of a known food safety risk from microbial or chemical contaminants. Reporting losses and seeking financial assistanceBefore cleaning up or destroying crops in flooded fields, check with your crop insurance and/or local Farm Services Agency (FSA) representatives regarding exact documentation to certify losses, procedures for initiating claims, possible financial assistance. Take photos of damaged field for visual documentation. Estimate crop value and degree of losses. Contact your county FSA office and fill out a crop loss report. This benefits your region because it helps to document the extent of damage to crops in your county which will determine eligibility for federal disaster aid. It will benefit you by establishing what level of damage you sustained. You do not need to have crop insurance to be eligible for disaster aid should your county be eligible. The state FSA office can link you to counties: phone 413-253-4500 or find county office listings online. USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) will be submitting documentation for federal emergency assistance. One program that may become available is the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) which provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought. If you have crop insurance, contact your crop insurance representative to arrange a visit from the crop adjustor to determine extent of losses. Contact NRCS offices if you have technical questions on soil impacts or movement and placement of sediment (below). FDA guidelines regarding harvestThe Food and Drug Administration has issued guidelines regarding harvesting crops from flooded fields. Because of the microbial and chemical contaminants in floodwater, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers crops where the edible portion has come in contact with flood waters to be 'adulterated' and not to be sold for human consumption. Following FDA guidelines, growers should discard all crops that have edible portions that have come in contact with flood water. A thirty-foot buffer (area to turn equipment) should be maintained between the crop and flood areas. To reduce the chances for cross-contamination do not drive through the flooded areas to harvest. There may be some gray areas where growers may use their discretion. Crops near flooded areas or those that were flooded without the edible part of the plant coming in contact with flood water (such as sweet corn or staked tomatoes) need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. If the edible portion did not contact flood waters and can be harvested without contacting contaminated soil, then it may be considered safe, although further washing and disinfecting would be recommended. Crops in which the edible portion develops after flood waters recede are not automatically deemed adulterated. This could include some fall vegetables that had only mild or short-term flooding and are early in their development, so that harvested portions will be growth that occurred after the flood. Avoid feeding crops that came in contact with flood waters to livestock as plants could have pesticides, pathogens, mycotoxins, or other contaminants that could be harmful to livestock health. If your well head was submerged, re-test your well water to make sure that only safe, potable water comes into direct contact with produce. For a list of Massachusetts lab that test of E. coli click here: Other considerations: Allow at least 60 days to elapse between flooding and planting of the next human food crop. In absence of known or suspected biological or chemical contaminants in flood waters (such as sewage discharge or run-off from industrial sites) you can replant after 60 days. See the FDA website for more: Practical and food safety considerations regarding harvestIf fields are flooded because of a stream or river overflow there is increased chance of contamination but it is not certain that there is a problem. If you suspect that a sewer, septic tank, manure pile, or some other direct contaminant is part of your flooding, then the affected part of the crop, especially those that are not cooked, should not be harvested because levels of E. coli will likely be high. Leafy greens including lettuce, kale, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, mustard greens, and others are not salable after being flooded because they are full of mud. In this case, it is the mud and not a biological contaminant which is the problem. Also for these crops, contamination with E. coli will likely not be helped with time and these crops cannot be easily disinfected. For fruiting vegetables such as pepper, tomato, eggplant, cucumber, summer squash, and zucchini, the decision to harvest and sell should be made on the basis of whether 1) portions of the crop remained above the floodwaters and 2) whether the crop can be washed clean of the mud and disinfected. E. coli levels decline under dry conditions. Thus, a few days of time with no further flooding will help reduce any E. coli levels that may be there. For any of the fruiting vegetables, a chlorine rinse or dip with 100-150 ppm chlorine can be used during the packing process to add an extra layer of safety. Crops such as winter squash and pumpkins, if they survive a flood, will be highly susceptible to fruit rots. Time will pass before harvest and the only real issue may be the mud and your ability to wash it off. Taller crops such as sweet corn will have minimal issues with both mud and E-coli. Growers need to use their best judgment and be vigilant of any direct contamination. Remember that there are microbial contaminants there all the time, in soil and in many water sources. In Massachusetts, anything less that 126 cfu's E. coli is considered in the acceptable range for irrigation and consumption (CFU= colony forming units, a measure of microbial population density). Even potable water guideline in MA is less than 20 cfu's - not zero. (Note this varies by state; Vermont's guideline is zero). Thus microbial risk is important, difficult to assess, and site specific! The risk of crop breakdown due to disease is a major consideration. This is not only a food safety issue, but produce quality. How many have harvested eggplant, peppers or watermelon and let them set a day to find the fruit breaking down? Have you shipped a load that looked good and had it returned running out of the trailer? It is better to make sure the produce is sound before shipping than paying to have it returned. This risk is nearly as high for fields with ponding (no contamination from outside the field) as for flooding. Phytophthora is a major concern with vine crops and peppers. Anthracnose and early blight can develop in tomatoes after harvest. If there is winter squash and pumpkins in the field ready to harvest, it may be advisable to let them set for a few days before picking up. That will give the bad fruit a chance to break down. That said, don't let mature fruit sit for long periods in the field - it is safer stored in bins, where you can have at least some control over the temperature, air circulation, and humidity. When harvested make sure the squash and pumpkins can dry off completely so there are no rot problems. Cure under ideal conditions. (See last week's issue for more on squash and pumpkin harvest and storage). Consider wiping the fruit with a chlorine solution (100-150 ppm) to reduce microbial load on the surface. Impacts on soil and field cleanup As floodwaters recede the sediment and erosion become visible and cleanup begins. However, before going on to the fields, be sure the soil has drained and is workable; working it too wet will exacerbate compaction problems. It is important that the sediment deposits are spread out evenly on the field before turning it under. An inch or two is not a problem, but if sediment is 6 inches or more, should be pushed around and evenly distributed before being incorporated. Silt can have benefits to soil - after all, flooding is why we have deep silt loams in river valleys - but it will be low in organic matter. Test soils after incorporation to determine further soil amendments that may be needed. When sediment is moved, it should not be dumped into wetlands; this is in violation state and federal wetlands regulations. Contact your local NRCS office regarding technical assistance and possible special funding for cleaning up. To protect the soil from further erosion, it is advisable to plant a cover crop on fields that cannot be re-planted soon with an edible crop. Cover crops can also help suppress weeds, and improve overall soil health. At this time of year (early fall) small grains such as oats, wheat or winter rye are good choices, with or without hairy vetch for adding fixed nitrogen. The article above also drew on summary of information compiled by Ginger Nickerson of the UVM Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture. For her full article, please see www.newfarmerproject.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/reporting-flood-losses-and-handling-produce-from-flooded- fields/ We also appreciate information provided by Tom Akin, NRCS State Conservationist, and Dick Burke, MA State FSA Director. Dealing with flooded berry fieldsSteve Reiners and Marvin Pritts, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University Record-breaking rains in eastern New York State have left many berry growers with unmarketable crops. What had been shaping up to be a decent season has quickly turned into a bad situation. Floods and food safety There are two types of flooding. The first is more typical and occurs after a heavy downpour when fields become saturated and water pools on the soil surface. This type of flooding can reduce yields and even kill plants but usually will not result in contamination of produce with human pathogens. The second type of flooding is more severe and unfortunately occurred with the recent storm. This occurs due to runoff from stream/river overflows will more likely be contaminated with human pathogens, as well as chemicals. Unless you are absolutely sure that flooding is not from streams and surface water, do not use berries that were covered with flood water. Plant survival underwater How long a crop can live once it is flooded and what may be the effect on yield? Berry crops can tolerate a great deal of flooding when they are dormant, but when actively growing in summer, flooding for any length of time can be detrimental. This time of year is particularly bad because plants are preparing to make flower buds for next year, and stress can compromise this process. If plant roots were under water for more than 48 hours, expect next year's crop to be compromised as well. Plants previously flooded may develop an off-green or yellowish color. These plants are suffering from a complex of nutrient deficiencies, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and perhaps others, even though the soil contains adequate amounts. But the main deficient element is oxygen. Plant roots need oxygen to take up nutrients and water to utilize the photosynthate from the tops and to grow. With the heavy rains we have had, soils are saturated; that is, nearly all of the pore space is filled with water, leaving little room for air. Ideally, for good root growth 50 percent of the pore space should be filled with air. As soils drain, air is drawn into the soil, but when it rains, the water forces the air out of the pores. As is obvious to all, what is needed now is several rain-free days so the soils can drain and draw in air to stimulate root growth. Once the plant roots get adequate oxygen they will begin to grow and take up the nutrients present in the soil. Anything that can be done to remove surface water will be helpful. Many plant diseases will be much worse following flooding rains (e.g. Phytophthora and Botrytis), so closely monitor crops and manage these diseases. Phytophthora spores are spread under flooded conditions, so chemical treatment may be warranted in susceptible crops (e.g. red raspberries and strawberries). Preparing your greenhouses for a hurricane
Skip Paul, Wishingstone Farm, RI; intro by Andy Cavanagh, UMass Extension With hurricane season upon us and Irene potentially heading our way it's time to think about preparing your greenhouses to survive the high winds we might be seeing soon. The article below contains some advice from Skip Paul of Wishing Stone Farm, who grows his crops on the coast of Rhode Island and has some experience with surviving heavy weather. Also, remember that before a rainstorm is an important time to apply fungicides for managing diseases, but sufficiently before so there is time for the spray deposit to dry and become rainfast (check the label). Development of most fungal and bacterial diseases is promoted by storms as they provide ideal conditions for pathogen dispersal and infection, with the notable exception of powdery mildews. Lastly, the MDAR Division of Animal Health is reminding everyone that establishing a plan of action in preparation of any type of emergency can minimize injury and property loss. A template to assist you in developing a farm emergency plan is available on our website at www.mass.gov/agr/animalhealth/farm_emergency.htm. How to Prepare Hurricane preparedness should start with checking all your connections and structural members every time you change your plastic (every four years). For instance if there is a weak link in a chain and a nut vibrates off of a critical connection, you will start a cascade of other failures. Take the two hours required to check and evaluate the connections on your houses between coverings. Don't just throw on another covering and call it done. Evaluation includes cleaning the bugs out of your inflation fans. Keeping the two sheets a bit over inflated during a storm is a good thing. This requires patching the myriad of small holes and nicks. We just open up the inflation fan air intake (all the way) and get that plastic extra tight. Don't forget to readjust the inflation fan intake slide vent after the storm - you don't want to over stretch your plastic. It will shorten its life over time. The next biggest problem is junk around the farm that can get going in the wind and rip a hole in the plastic, which leads to the next most important thing: don't let the wind get in the structure. The wing on an airplane lifts as much from the wind speed of the wind going over the top and lifting the wing from the rear as it does from getting under the wing. In a similar way, the air going over the top of the greenhouse wants to lift the downside. Buttoning up the structure will help keep the air from doing this. Obviously, keeping the wind from getting inside is important as well. If we know we will lose power, we duck tape the intake shutters to keep the wind out. Keep your large doors closed by putting something in front of them. Most greenhouses don't have good door latches for their doors; if they vibrate loose or fail, wind will get in. Probably the most important decision is whether to cut or take off the plastic. I once heard that the increase of wind pressure or damage increases 80% when you go from 75 mph to 100 mph. If you add rain water to that, you have a force most of us have never experienced. We have always thought that if we know we are getting 100+ mph winds then we should take the plastic off...the structural damage to the greenhouse doesn't warrant trying to make it through the storm. Plus, at 100+ mph you probably will lose your power and there is another reason you will be glad you took the plastic off. Uninflated greenhouse coverings are like a large boat spinnaker gone wild...It can be dangerous and just beat the hell out of the structure. Tip: if you do take the plastic off; try to do it in two separate pieces and put it away somewhere dry. If you let it slump off the greenhouse and fill with water, the capillary activity of the water between the sheets will make it impossible to recover the house until they are separated and dry. People with Haygrove (that includes us). Don't even think about trying to make it through anything over 65 mph. Your manual will tell you it isn't made for that kind of wind. Especially since their solution to lower wind speeds is to open the structure up! That can work up to 55 mph, but above 65 the wing on the airplane physics kicks in and you will be sorry. Our Haygrove had one end crushed in a sudden wind gust last season; it can happen. Those with Rimol moveable houses 2 (or greenhouses on skids a la Elliot Coleman) should heed the same warning: like the above airplane wing conclusion, small pipes driven in here and there will do you no good when the wind gets over 75 mph. It's better to take the plastic off than to see your greenhouse rolling over your neighbor's hayfield. Probably the most important thing is to respect the peak of the storm. Don't switch plans and try to do any of this in the midst of the storm. The wind is dangerous and adding heavy rain to that can be catastrophic…I once saw a sailor flipped 30 feet into the air while trying to hold a spinnaker line that got loose. Be careful with this storm. About flooded crops:The Questions on Salvaging Flooded Crops, John E. Rushing, Ph.D. Department of Food Science http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/foodsci/ext/pubs/salvagingfloodedcrops.PDF Assessing damage to corn and field crops: Soil Health: Soil Testing Following Flooding: Organic Concerns: For Organic Growers, information from the University of Minnesota: From Don Franczyk at Baystate Organic Certification: Financial Resources for Farmers:Farmers should call their local FSA (Farm Service Agency) office to report damages as soon as possible. In order to access any assistance funds for farmers, FSA needs to assess the extent of the damage locally and get an emergency declaration. This opens the possibility for (but does not guarantee) funding to become available. Farmers who report damage are helping the FSA make their assessment, and also get into the pipeline to receive funding if/when it becomes available. Here is a link to the FSA press release on the subject. Aimee Thayer, USDA FSA County Executive Director: AMHERST, Mass. (Sept. 2, 2011) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering assistance to Massachusetts agricultural producers who sustained damage to crops and livestock during Tropical Storm Irene. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help communities address watershed impairments caused by flooding that are imminent hazards to life and infrastructure. "FSA has several programs that can be of assistance to agricultural producers who have sustained damage," said Richard Burke, FSA Massachusetts State Executive Director. "They include the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), Emergency Loan Program (ELP), Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish (ELAP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP)."
"NRCS' Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program addresses watershed impairments such as debris-clogged stream channels, undermined and unstable streambanks threatening bridges, roads, buildings and other public infrastructure," said Christine Clarke, NRCS Massachusetts State Conservationist. "All EWP projects must have a project sponsor such as a city, town or tribal government." Farmers should contact their local FSA office for information about farm assistance programs. Community officials should contact their local NRCS office for information about EWP. The Berkshire County USDA Service Center is located in the Conte Federal Building at 78 Center St. in Pittsfield. Telephone number is 413 443-1776. General program information is available on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov or the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov. Reporting Damage for Crop Insurance Crop insurance policies require that written notice be given to your crop insurance agent (by crop by unit (farm):
**Prior Authorization by your crop insurance agent is required if you plan to leave sample rows for yield determination: If loss adjusting workload does not permit appraising damaged crop acreage before you are ready to start cutting silage, prior authorization must be obtained from your insurance company, through your crop insurance agent, before sample row areas can be left for later yield determination. For this reason, it's important that notice of damage be filed with your crop insurance agent as early as you determine that damage occurred so that harvesting is not delayed. If you don't have crop insurance, but are now considering it for future losses visit CISA's Crop Insurance page for more info. Most diversified farmers should review the AGR and AGR-lite programs which insure against income loss- info can be found at the bottom of the page. Disaster Assistance for Personal Property and Small Businesses Federal Funds:Here is a review of Federal Disaster Assistance available for personal property and small businesses (aka your farm business). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened four disaster recovery centers (DRC) in Williamstown, Pittsfield, Greenfield, and Shelburne/Buckland. At a FEMA disaster recovery center, you can learn about the benefits, grants, and low-interest loans that are available to those impacted by Tropical Storm Irene. The DRC's are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information here. Please register with FEMA before visiting your local DRC by calling 800-621-3362 or by registering online. Please note that calling 2-1-1 does not register you for FEMA benefits. Federal Other Needs Assistance (ONA) grants are limited to addressing costs not covered by insurance or other sources and will help pay for:
Tax Relief: The President has declared Berkshire and Franklin counties as federal disaster areas. Individuals who reside or have a business in these counties may qualify for tax relief. More information here. Private Funds: CDF Hurricane Irene Recovery Fund The fund's first contributions included $5,000 from the National Consumer Cooperative Bank and $5,000 from the National Cooperative Grocers Association. Shelburne Falls Area Business Association's West County Relief Fund Citizens Bank Emergency Loans Where to donate money:These funds have been established to provide some support for farmers in Massachusetts who experienced losses due to Hurricane Irene. Each fund has its own focus, and many farmers who experienced flooding or other damage will not fit into the particular criteria of any of these funds. We recommend that in addition to considering making a contribution to one of these funds, you ask the farmers whose products you eat or use whether or not they experienced losses, and consider making a donation directly to them if they did. Most important, please continue to eat and buy local foods and products this fall. The best thing that people can do to help is to keep buying from local organic farms through the fall. Many of them lost a good portion of their yearly earnings and need to make up as much revenue as they can. We are having a nice warm fall so far so many of them will still have produce for sale. Cooperative Development Foundation Hurricane Irene Recovery Fund "The fund will direct tax-deductible contributions specifically to individuals and cooperative businesses along the East Coast and throughout New England who have experienced losses. The fund also will seek to assist organic farmers who are prime suppliers to food cooperatives." Shelburne Falls Area Business Association West County Relief Fund Nuestras Raices Please send donations to:
This page was last modified on November 16, 2011 at 9:36:34 AM.
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