New York’s congressional delegation is pressing federal agriculture officials to approve disaster assistance for farmers after an April frost caused widespread damage to fruit and specialty crops across the state, with losses already estimated at more than $30 million.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer joined Reps. Pat Ryan, Paul Tonko, Josh Riley, and Tim Kennedy in urging U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to quickly approve a Secretarial Disaster Designation requested by Gov. Kathy Hochul. The designation would allow affected farmers to access low-interest emergency loans and other recovery resources.
According to state and federal officials, warmer-than-normal winter conditions caused many crops to begin developing early before freezing temperatures struck in April. The frost damaged buds and shoots on a range of specialty crops, including apples, grapes, stone fruits, pears, strawberries, and onions. Growers have reported crop losses ranging from 15% to 100%, according to estimates cited in the request.
The lawmakers noted that New York ranks among the nation’s leading specialty crop producers, including second in apple production and third in grape production. Many farms also support the state’s agritourism economy through wineries, hard cider production, and pick-your-own operations.
The disaster designation request covers 15 primary counties, including Yates, Schuyler, Onondaga, Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. The request also includes numerous contiguous counties, including Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins, Wayne, Monroe, Chemung, Oswego, and Madison.
Lawmakers said approving the request would provide critical financial assistance to help growers recover from one of the most damaging spring frost events in recent years and protect a sector that plays a major role in New York’s agricultural economy.
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