New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today announced the fourth component of Governor Cuomo’s Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF), the Capital On-Farm Needs Component, which will provide funding up to $20,000 per eligible farm for capital losses caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

“Farmers affected by the storms this past fall continue to struggle in financing the necessary repairs and physical losses they incurred,” the Commissioner said. “Governor Cuomo has given us the framework and resources through his ACRF program to help our farmers, and it is our intention to provide some needed assistance to these businesses as they work to get back on their feet and begin planning out their 2012 growing season.”

The ACRF Capital On-Farm Needs Component is designed to help pay for capital losses, such as the repair or replacement of fixtures and equipment needed to maintain agricultural operations. Funding for this program will be provided in the form of grants for 50 percent of eligible costs up to $20,000 per farm. Program guidelines and applications for the Capital On-Farm Needs Component, as well as other ACRF components, are available on the Department’s website, http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/.

This component of ACRF will be administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in coordination with New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) and Empire State Development (ESD).

Immediately following the devastating effects of the combined storms of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, Governor Cuomo created the $15 million Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF) to help rebuild the agricultural industry and farming areas in the impacted areas. That program has had three successful components, prior to the current Capital On-Farm Needs Component. Those include the ACRF Conservation Component, ACRF Farm Operation Match Component, and the ACRF Main Street Component.

In addition, Governor Cuomo announced $50 million in additional flood recovery funds, of which farmers and small business owners will be eligible for $21 million for physical flood-related damage costs, not covered by other federal, state or local recovery programs, or any third party payers. The guidelines and application for that program can be found on Empire State Development’s website, http://www.esd.ny.gov/BusinessPrograms/FloodRecovery.html.

The combined impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee had a devastating effect on New York State agriculture resulting in an estimated 200,000 acres of cropland damage and $73 million in agricultural damages to crops, buildings, equipment and land resources.

On Sunday January 29th, Broome County 4-H held their annual “Awards Dinner”. This event honors those who have been in 4-H, participated in multiple projects and those chosen to attend trips focused on areas such as “Career Development” at Cornell University, learning about politics in Albany at “Capitol Days” and general monetary awards to further individual 4-H projects. For more information on becoming involved in the 4-H program, contact Susan Fahrenz at (607) 772-8953 or saf222@cornell.edu.