By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a Secretarial natural disaster designation for portions of New York following a damaging freeze that occurred between April 7 and April 8, 2026.
The designation enables eligible agricultural producers to apply for emergency assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Farmers in the primary eligible counties of Broome, Cortland, and Tompkins may qualify for emergency loans designed to help operations recover from disaster-related losses.
Producers in contiguous counties including Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Onondaga, Schuyler, Seneca, and Tioga are also eligible to apply.
Emergency loans can be used for a variety of recovery needs, such as replacing essential farm equipment or livestock, restoring normal farming operations, and refinancing certain eligible debts.
Loan applications will be evaluated based on the extent of production losses, available collateral, and the applicant’s ability to repay the loan.
Eligible producers have until March 23, 2027, to submit applications. Farmers who experienced losses or have questions about available disaster assistance programs are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center for additional information and guidance.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: New York, Government & Policy