U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say the federal government will reimburse dairy farmers for the tons of milk that had to be dumped because it was unable to get to market because of Tropical Storm Irene.

The funds will replace milk dumped or spoiled by power loss or impassible roads along the Eastern Seaboard. Farmers will be paid full market value.

The New York Democrats say the U.S. Department of Agriculture will send checks to farmers as if the product went to market.

Tropical Storm Irene destroyed wide swaths of farmland in eastern New York. PD

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—AP newswire report