As the cleanup after Irene continues, the damage done to the agriculture community comes into focus. Our Megan Cruz spoke to Schoharie farmers who say they're season's been cut short.

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FULTONHAM, N.Y. -- "How do we get all the corn back up?"

A good question from David Shaul's daughter, but he doesn't like the answer.

"It looks better than it did as it tries to gooseneck back up, but you can't harvest it," David Shaul, of Shaul Farms. "I'm sure it's gone."

Ironically enough, Shaul had been expecting a bigger than usual return on his field corn this year. That's before Irene dumped at least five feet of water on his crops.

"We've never had anything like this," said Shaul. "All of a sudden, you go from farming one day to nothing."

Governor Andrew Cuomo says at least 140,000 acres of farmland across the state have been ruined. For Shaul, Irene left him with only 10 percent of his land.

"Financially is what really worries me," he said. "Just having all your outlay out there and having no money coming in. I'm sure there's going to be damage in the fields as well, requiring bulldozers and a lot of work."

"Document all of it, so that if and when there comes a time to reimburse those costs, we're definitely going to need the documentation to support that," said New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Darrell Aubertine.

But with costs climbing upwards of $45 million, the Governor has asked the federal government for assistance. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack plans to visit in the next couple days.

County officials say a lot rides on the success of the area's number one industry.

"There are tons of vegetables and other crops that are grown in this valley that get trucked all over, including the metropolitan area around New York City," said Alicia Terry, Schoharie County's Planning Director.

For Shaul, who sells 50 percent of his produce to Price Chopper and Hannaford, he hopes to get back into business as soon as possible, which may be next year.

"I'm hoping!" he said. "You always have to be optimistic, right?"