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NEW YORK STATE WEATHER

Fed Assistance Sought for NY, Northeast Vineyards, Orchards Hit by Frost

Fed Assistance Sought for NY, Northeast Vineyards, Orchards Hit by Frost


Vineyards and apple orchards across the Northeast — including the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York — are still gauging damage from a late-season frost in May that wiped out a third to most of the crop for some growers who say it's the worst frost damage they have ever seen.

Some states are seeking federal disaster declarations, which would make low-interest loans and other programs available to affected growers, while agriculture officials across the region are contemplating together asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for direct aid to farmers.

In southern Vermont, Scott Farm Orchard lost up to 90% of its apple crop when the temperature dipped to 25 degrees for five hours on May 18. At the northern end of the state, Shelburne Vineyards in Shelburne, Vermont, lost about 50% of its grape crop, which is potentially a half-million dollar revenue loss, according to head wine grower and vineyard manager Ethan Joseph.

To make up for lost production, Shelburne Vineyards plans to buy additional grapes at a time when its overall costs this year will be higher due to the frost, Joseph told The Associated Press. The vineyard has wine in stock to sell and it's not off the table that it could raise prices, he said.

"We've never seen this kind of freeze event, certainly in the history of the vineyard," Joseph said. "I've been here for 16 years. We've never seen anything like it."

The widespread frost hit the large wine-producing region of the Finger Lakes where it's estimated about half of the grape crop was lost regionwide, according to Kyle Anne Pallischeck, executive director of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance. Depending on their location, some vineyards were hit hard and others had little to no damage.

Source: oleantimesherald.com

Photo Credit: gettyimages-creativenature-nl.

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