Hayworth Announces USDA Disaster Designation for Putnam County
U.S. Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, M.D. (NY-19) announced last week that the United States Department of Agriculture has designated Putnam County, along with Orange, Rockland and Dutchess Counties, as agriculture disaster areas. These counties experienced significant crop destruction due to severe weather in the early spring.
“Our Hudson Valley farms were hit hard by frosts, freezes, high winds and hail in the early spring. The agriculture disaster designation and emergency financial and technical assistance authorized by the USDA will help our hardworking farmers continue their crucial work of providing fresh, healthful food for families throughout our area and beyond,” Rep. Hayworth said.
The USDA conducted a review of Loss Assessment Reports and determined that farmers in Putnam County encountered sufficient production losses due to frost and freeze that occurred on March 1 and a frosts, freezes high winds and hail that occurred from March 26 to April 8 to warrant a disaster designation from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
The disaster designation provides farmers with access to federal resources including low interest emergency loans and financial assistance provided by the Farm Service Agency, provided that applicable eligibility requirements are met. Eligible farmers have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance.
If you have any questions or would like to request assistance, please contact Congresswoman Hayworth’s district office at (845) 206-4600 or the Farm Service Agency at (845) 343-1872.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
