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Farmers Ruined by Sixth 50-Year Flood Since 2009
Wednesday, Sep 7, 7PM: There will be a big fundraising event to benefit Warwick Valley Farmers on Sunday, Sept. 25th.  It is the brain child of Paul Caskey and Cheryl Rogowski. The goal is to raise at least “$25K on the 25th”.   An organizational meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 7th, at 7 PM in the Dorothy Wilson Community Room at the middle school. Please come to hear the plans to date and see how you can become involved with the efforts to present a series of events including a concert on behalf of the farmers of the greater Warwick Valley. 
Emergency Meeting for All Farmers: Thursday, September 8 · 3:00pm - 6:00pm Location at the Emergency Service Center 6 1/2 Station Road Goshen , NY 10924

It is meant to talk about all of the funding sources/agency assistance available for recovery from Irene specific to agricultural producers. We will have FEMA, FSA (Farm Services Agency), Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Crop Insurance representation, Cornell, Farm Credit and potentially others. There appears to be some overlap as well as questions about who covers what losses, home?, barn?, equipment?, animals?, roads/la...nes?, ditches/culverts?, production?. There will also be some discussion on steps you can take to recover your fields/crops for the future. Farmers from any NY county are welcome to attend since the vast majority of the information will be applicable, especially if their county has the same disaster designation as Orange. Sorry for the quickness but FSA has a 15 day notice-of-loss time limit we want to stay within that.
Sep 6, 2011: Times Herald-Record; by Alyssa Sunken: GOSHEN — Hurricane Irene hit the Black Dirt region at the worst possible time, just before harvest and after farmers fully invested in their crops.

But farmers say its disaster relief isn't sufficient enough for their operations. And while there's crop insurance, the policies are written in such a way to provide as little payout as possible. "If we have to rely on crop insurance and disaster relief, we are done," said Chris Pawelski, whose onion farm Schumer and FEMA Regional Administrator Lynn Canton toured Monday afternoon. "We are done." Read More>>
Videos and News Coverage
TV News 12: Senator Schumer Pawelski Farm Visit
WABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News: Flood Story 9/1/11
YNN, Your News Now: Senator Schumer visits hard hit Orange County farmers
Black dirt farmers say the usual disaster help won’t help, this time
Farmers push government for storm aid
HV Media Group - Aerial Footage
Images: Post-Hurricane Irene Flooding
THR: Acres of Onions Washed Away