Late may frost and below freezing temperatures wreaked havoc on orchards & vineyards across New York state last week. With more frost forecast this week, senators are now urging the USDA to prepare to provide relief and - if requested - approve a crop disaster declaration to unlock emergency funding for growers who are experiencing some of the worst frost crop losses in years.
US senate majority leader Charles E. Schumer and US senator Kirsten Gillibrand have called on USDA secretary Tom Vilsack to provide swift relief to vineyards, farms, and orchards who have suffered major crop damage from the extreme cold weather last week that destroyed thousands of acres of grapes & apples, and if requested, be ready to approve a crop disaster declaration to provide emergency relief.
The senators said that this widespread agricultural devastation, so close to harvest, requires prompt attention from the feds, especially since more frost is forecast in the coming days, and are urging the USDA to make any and all assistance available to impacted eligible growers.
A copy of Senator Schumer and Gillibrand's letter to the USDA can be found here.
Source: schumer.senate.gov