Hochul: USDA disaster declaration for growers who sustained significant crop loss from extreme spring weather

Disaster declaration letter here

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced New York state was granted a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretarial disaster designation for counties in the Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson, Capital, Central New York, Long Island, Mohawk Valley, New York, North Country, Southern Tier and the Western New York regions following extreme weather in the spring that significantly impacted many fruit operations, including apple, stone fruit, grape and strawberry growers. To date, producers that reported in these regions have experienced an estimated loss of more than $30 million. A disaster designation allows affected farmers to apply for USDA low-interest emergency loans. This designation was granted after a request for a disaster declaration by Hochul on May 19.

“New York’s growers experienced significant damage early this year with some losing an entire growing season and reporting tens of millions in economic loss,” Hochul said. “I would like to thank the USDA for taking this action to declare a disaster designation for the impacted counties and help our growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward. I also encourage New Yorkers to continue to support their local growers, whether it’s by buying fresh local products from the farm or purchasing the many products made from New York’s growers.”

The following local counties are included in the disaster declaration for frost and freeze April 19-21: Niagara, Orleans

Also included is the contiguous county of: Erie

The following county is included for the disaster declaration for excessive rain, flooding and flash flooding that occurred March 31-April 1: Erie

Also included are the contiguous counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara and Wyoming.

A USDA disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous eligible to be considered for emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for relief programs. Farmers can contact their local FSA office here: Find Your Local USDA Service Center. In addition, farmers can find additional resources, such as the FSA disaster assistance tool, which helps farmers determine FSA program eligibility, on the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ emergency management webpage: https://agriculture.ny.gov/emergency-management-partners-and-resources.

New York is a major specialty crop state. The apple, grape and stone fruit industries represent an important and large component of New York’s agricultural economy. New York ranks second in the country for apple production and third for grapes, for example. The apple industry alone generates $574 million in economic impact. These crops also play an important role in wholesale markets as well as retail and direct pick-your own sales.

Damage varies from county to county and a survey conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets estimates that many growers are facing a wide range in losses – anywhere from 15% to 100%, with an estimated economic loss of more than $30 million to date.

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, alongside several partner agricultural organizations, visited a number of impacted growers in the Hudson Valley region on May 7 to see firsthand the damage producers were facing.

Ball said, “I thank Gov. Hochul for taking action and urging the USDA to issue this disaster declaration to support our fruit and vegetable growers in their time of need. We saw unprecedented damage to our apple crops and vineyards while touring the Hudson Valley, and growers in regions across the state are facing similar economic losses from the spring frost as well. Securing this disaster declaration will provide the opportunity for affected farmers to apply for critical loan funding that will be crucial to our growers as they move forward.”