Irenes Damage To Agriculture Assessed
According to the Associated Press, state political and agricultural leaders touring eastern North Carolina, the day after hurricane Irene left the state, said they saw tobacco stalks knocked over in fields and other damage to corn and cotton. Gov. Beverly Perdue, taking an aerial tour of eastern North Carolina, said soybean crops she saw in Jones County may have fared better, but farmers were still taking a hit from the storm damage.
The state’s agriculture department also said they’ve received reports of damages to greenhouses and grain storage facilities, as well as damage to an aquaculture operation in Pamlico County. It may be several days before there are dollar amounts on the damage as crop loss data is counted, department spokesman Brian Long said.
In New York the state’s Farm Bureau assembled a team to assist in emergency situations on flooded and wind-blown farms and assess overall damage from Hurricane Irene to agriculture, which appears to be extensive in some areas. Crop damage appears to be severe in areas around the Schoharie Valley and Mohawk Valley. Other areas in the Hudson Valley are seeing considerable damage as well. Long Island experienced crop damage as well, the Bureau said. ♦