The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is offering a toll-free hotline to help farmers affected by Hurricane Irene connect with resources that can assist their recovery.

Farmers can call the agricultural disaster hotline at 1-866-506-6222. It will be staffed 24 hours a day through Sept. 6. Operating hours will be re-evaluated at that time. Information also is online at www.ncagr.gov.

“Irene had an enormous impact on farmers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Major crops were affected, and many farmers were left with little or nothing to harvest. The hotline and website provide information that farmers need as they start to recover.”

By calling the hotline or visiting the website, farmers can obtain information about programs and agencies that can assist with the recovery process.