State requests federal aid after frost leads to crop damage

GREENE COUNTY―New York State has requested a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretarial Disaster Designation for multiple counties, including Greene, after late season frost damaged multiple crops.

Freezing temperatures that dipped below 23 degrees on April 21 significantly impacted the primary and secondary fruiting buds and shoots of fruit crops, including apples, grapes, stone fruit—peaches, plums, cherries—pears and strawberries across the regions, particularly those in higher elevation, following warmer than average temperatures that brought many crops to bud early. In addition, early vegetable crops like onions sustained damage.

To date, producers have experienced an estimated loss of more than $30 million, according to the governor’s office.

“Many of our growers are seeing unprecedented damage to their crops and it will be a huge loss for them this year. A disaster declaration can open up critical loan funding that, coupled with crop insurance, would be crucial to recovery,” said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball.

A disaster designation would allow affected farmers to apply for USDA low-interest emergency loans.

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 percent to 100 percent.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to quickly approve the state request.

“These frost events are devastating for New York’s specialty crop and fruit sector, and a secretarial disaster designation would help ensure that impacted growers have the resources they need to recover,” Gillibrand said.

New York currently ranks second in the country for apple production, an industry that generates an estimated $574 million in economic impact.

Impacted counties include Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Erie, Greene, Niagara, Chautauqua, Onondaga, Orange, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester and Yates. Contiguous counties include Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Madison, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins and Wayne.

“I urge the USDA to take swift action to declare a disaster designation for the impacted counties and help our growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.

“I also encourage New Yorkers to continue to support their local growers,” Hochul added. “Whether it’s by buying fresh local products from the farm or purchasing the many products made from New York fruit.”