The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 31 counties in New York as primary natural disaster areas following the late May frost/freeze event. This means that farmers in those counties may be eligible for assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), including emergency loans.
The USDA also designated an additional 24 counties as contiguous disaster counties. Farmers in these counties may also be eligible for FSA assistance, but they will need to meet certain eligibility requirements.
Farmers who were affected by the frost/freeze event can apply for emergency loans with their local FSA office. The deadline to apply for loans is eight months from the date of the disaster declaration.
In addition to the USDA disaster designation, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has also issued a crop loss declaration to help farm wineries impacted by the May freeze event sustain their business operations. The emergency declaration allows farm winery owners to temporarily source grapes or juice from outside of New York through Dec. 31, 2023, while still maintaining their New York farm winery status.
Farm wineries can apply for the exemption here. The deadline to apply for the exemption is Oct. 31, 2023. The department will host an industry-wide webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to provide information on the application process and to answer any questions farm wineries may have. The webinar can be accessed here.
• Webinar number: 161 819 5403
• Webinar password: 2023WINE (20239463 from phones and video systems)
• Join by phone: +1-518-549-0500 US (English menu) // access code: 161 819 5403
The USDA FSA recommends that farmers affected by the freeze should document their conditions (pictures and video) and any losses. Farmers can file a CCC- 576 (notice of loss) with their local USDA FSA office
Photo Credit: gettyimages-creativenature-nl
Categories: New York, Business, Weather