Oneida County Farm Service Agency Urging Farmers To Report Agricultural Losses As Soon As Possible If Affected By Flooding In Central New York

The Oneida County Farm Service Agency is urging agricultural producers to report losses following the Mohawk Valley flooding. Central New York farmers have undoubtedly suffered significant losses as entire crops were swept away by flood waters.

Donna Purdy, County Executive Director for the FSA, says reporting gives the United States Department of Agriculture, which runs the agency, an accurate tool for requesting funding, especially from the federal government.

It is important not only from individual insurance perspectives, but for the region as well. It is the only way that the damage from disasters, especially those that are so widespread - such as the latest round of flooding - can be accurately assessed. She says we can all drive by and see entire crops of corn underwater, but there has to be an accurate way to quantify the damage. Purdy says that is best done by those who planted the crops in the first place and have directly suffered the losses.

The FSA has been working diligently on getting a federal disaster declaration. In addition to Oneida, the flooding affected multiple counties including Madison, Herkimer, Montgomery, and Chenango.

Purdy says time is of the essence. Gathering the information "while it is fresh" is easier to collect and more accurate. For anyone who is affected by Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, there is an actual reporting deadline of fifteen days from the date of the loss.

Farmers suffering losses are also reminded not to destroy crops, insured or not, until crop adjusters have been sent by private insurers or agricultural officials. The FSA will provide information if financial assistance through loans or emergency assistance grants becomes available.