Heavy rains in late summer left fields under pools of water. (CBC)

P.E.I. potato farmers are unable to access anywhere near the amount of money that was promised by the federal government to help them with crops damaged by rains last fall.

Last fall, the federal government announced $12.4 million in disaster assistance for growers, but there were so many restrictions that very little of that money, about $1.4 million, actually flowed to Island producers.

P.E.I. Potato Board chair Boyd Rose told CBC News Friday the board lobbied hard to get some of those restrictions lifted. The government has now announced some changes that will put a little bit more money in the hands of producers, about two cents a pound for any potatoes that went bad in storage because they were wet.

"People that get it will appreciate the small bit of help, but it certainly doesn't even come close to covering the losses on some farms this year," said Rose.

"It's really not paying you for the product. It's only paying to haul it out and to clean up your warehouse after. There is no payment for the actual potatoes themselves."

The change is expected to put another $1.4 million in the hands of Island potato farmers, for a total of $2.8 million —which is still only about 22 per cent of what was promised.

Island farmers had to abandon 1,400 hectares of potatoes (worth more than $10 million) in 2008 because of sodden fields. More was lost to potatoes rotting in storage.