NY Gov. Seeks USDA Emergency Declaration

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asked the US Agriculture Department to declare a disaster for counties who experienced first, exceptionally warm temperatures followed by frost conditions in April that damaged fruit operations including apple, stone fruit, grape and strawberry growers. Damages in these regions have totalled more than $30 million, she said.

A Disaster Designation would allow affected farmers to apply for USDA low-interest emergency loans.

Freezing temperatures that dipped below 23 degrees significantly damaged 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 damages.