New York farmers whose crops suffered from the 2012 spring freeze can now apply for retroactive disaster recovery funds, according to a Monday announcement from Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture'sFarm Service Agency will accept applications for its Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program beginning 24 July, according to the release. Eligible farmers can sign up for assistance for losses to bush and tree fruit crops because of the "devastating" frost and freeze during the 2012 crop year, Schumer said.
"When this kind of weather disaster happens, it should be up to the federal government to lend a hand to the local farmers that need assistance," Schumer said in the release.
The program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, will help farmers, particularly those who grow fruit, recover from loss of income as a result of weather-related or other natural disasters, the release said. Farmers will be able to purchase insurance now to cover their losses retroactively.
Farmers in more than 51 counties in New York are eligible for relief funding, including Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties, the release said.
During the unanticipated freeze of spring 2012, the USDA issued a total of four federal agriculture disaster declarations for 51 counties in New York, representing $2.09 billion in agricultural production, the release said. After a particularly warm winter, many crops on New York farms blossomed earlier than usual and were consequently exposed to early spring freezing temperatures, destroying or heavily damaging many of them.
Particularly hard-hit were fruit producers, including cherry and peach growers, all of whom would be eligible for relief under the new provision, according to the release.
Farmers will have to pay a small fee to enter the program based on the value of production and acres planted, the release said. Each farmer will be eligible to receive up to $125,000 in assistance. Applications must be submitted to FSA county offices by Sept. 22, 2014.
Source - http://insurancenewsnet.com/
