As the region continues to recover from last week’s back-to-back snowstorms, 10 farms have been awarded $855,000 for weather-related damage from a lake-effect storm in 2022.
Businesses applied to the Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District for up to $200,000 for damage to facilities, structures, equipment, machinery and capital assets that were not eligible for insurance coverage. The awards were made possible after Erie County allocated funds to help local agribusinesses recover from the 2022 storm that occurred from Nov. 16 to Nov. 21 during the last winter weather season.
• Amos Zittel & Sons in Eden, for a greenhouse and storage building collapse.
• Balczerak Farms in Elma, for a grain bin roof collapse.
• Bengert Farms in West Seneca, greenhouse collapse.
• Draudt & Sons in Hamburg, greenhouse collapse.
• Eden Valley Farm in Eden, storage building collapse.
• Heritage Farms in Orchard Park, metal storage building collapse.
• Kwilos Farms in Derby, greenhouse collapse.
• Lockwood Greenhouses & Farms in Hamburg, greenhouse and storage building damage.
• Miller’s Farm Market in Hamburg, greenhouse and storage building collapse.
• Providence Farm Collective in Orchard Park, high tunnel damage.
“So many of these farmers operate on slim margins, and many are family farms that have been passed down through generations,” Erie County Legislature Minority Leader John Mills said in a news release. “These farmers face daily challenges, and to provide funding to help them recover is absolutely necessary. I hope this gives the leg up needed for them to be back to where they were before the devastating storm.”
Funds up to $200,000 per applicant were made available to eligible businesses to address documented storm damage. The aim is to preserve agricultural lands and conserve agricultural soils and protect water quality for future generations, according to the Soil & Water Conservation District.
Mark…
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