Massive Snow Takes Toll on Connecticut Farm Buildings

Connecticut agriculture officials say more than 120 farm buildings have been partly or entirely destroyed because of the massive snow that struck New England.

Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky on Tuesday called it a “significant loss.”

He says many of the buildings were hoop houses, which are structures of sheet plastic stretched over bent metal hoops. They are used to protect bedding plants and vegetables.

Reviczky says many of the hoop buildings are not insured and financial help from Washington is limited to low-interest loans to farmers who don’t qualify for commercial loans.

The destruction is reminiscent of widespread roof collapses in the winter of 2011. Reviczky says 511 buildings were damaged or destroyed two years ago, but that was due to several storms during the season.

The damage now is from one storm.