Note: This story has been updated to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture approval.
Nearly all New York counties can receive federal aid after roller coaster temperatures in May caused massive crop losses.
In mid-May, days of record-high warm temperatures caused grapevines to bud — soon after, unseasonably freezing temperatures killed off those grapes, and affected budding apples and other fruits and vegetables as well.
NY agriculture:‘Worst we’ve ever seen.’ Frost threatens Finger Lakes wines, grape harvest
On Thursday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved the New York Farm Service Agency’s Aug. 2 request for a federal agricultural disaster declaration for 31 counties spanning from Western New York to the Hudson Valley. The designation opens access to low-interest emergency loans to recoup losses.
In his approval, Vilsack wrote in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul indicating that, along with the 31 counties designated as “primary natural disaster areas,” he expanded aid to 24 additional contiguous counties. Fifteen neighboring counties in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont are also eligible for aid.
Earlier in the week, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats, called for federal aid for the state’s agricultural industry.
“These growers are part of the core fiber of New York State, and have a long history of producing quality food to feed Americans,” Schumer and Gillibrand’s joint letter, sent Wednesday, said. “Now that our growers are hurting, it is imperative that we heed the call and urgently provide the support that they deserve to get back on their feet.”
What was the spread of the crop damage in NY?
Between May 14 and 25, New York experienced several days that fell below freezing, but May 17 to 18 saw the most widespread damage overnight. While severe cold and freeze resulted in crop losses for several types of fruits, as well as flower and hay, the brunt…
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