In response to the severe spring freezes that ravaged crops across 31 counties in New York State, the federal Department of Agriculture has approved the New York State Farm Service Agency’s appeal for an Agricultural Disaster Designation.
The cold snap had a particularly detrimental impact on Upstate New York farms, with significant losses reported for key crops like grapes, apples, strawberries, and blueberries. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York highlighted the significance of family farms to the region’s agricultural economy and underscored the need for federal intervention, having personally reached out to Secretary Vilsack to advocate for the disaster designation.
The approval paves the way for affected counties to seek low-interest emergency loans, allowing farmers to recoup up to $500,000 in losses. The counties slated to benefit from this aid include Cayuga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates, encompassing regions like the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. Eligible farmers are given an eight-month window from the disaster declaration date to apply for these relief loans.
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