Vermont Fund Set Up to Help Irene-Ravaged Farms

Grants of up to $10,000 are now available to Vermont farms damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene.

The Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund was formed by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the Vermont Community Foundation to help farmers get back on their feet after the storm.

Officials say grants will be available to farmers from contributions to help replace infrastructure, seed, feed, livestock, supplies, and equipment lost in the that are not covered by insurance or other sources of income.

Vermont Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross said Monday that the estimated crop losses and damage to crop land exceed $10 million. He says an estimated 10,000 acres of farmland were affected and that farmers continue to report losses.

Applications are available on the Vermont Community Foundation’s web site, www.vermontcf.org.