The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for 43 primary natural disaster area counties and an additional 61 contiguous counties in Virginia, according to Governor Abigail Spanberger.
The declaration is in response to the late spring frost and freeze, says the Governor.
The designation follows a formal request submitted by Governor Spanberger in May, to respond to the “catastrophic damage sustained by Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries.”
“Virginia agriculture is the cornerstone of our economy — supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, securing our food supply, and protecting the Commonwealth’s natural beauty for future generations,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “The unprecedented frost and freeze event this spring devastated farmers across Virginia, many of whom will not be able to harvest a crop until the 2027 growing season. This federal disaster declaration provides vital resources to help hardworking family farmers navigate a difficult year and prepare for their next crop. I am grateful to Secretary Rollins and our federal partners for listening to the concerns of our farmers and producers, and I look forward to remaining in close contact in the months ahead. I also appreciate the efforts of our congressional delegation, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Farm Bureau, and agricultural organizations across the Commonwealth for their support of this critical USDA designation.”
According to a release from the Governor’s Office:
The disaster declaration comes in response to devastating frost and freeze damage to Virginia agriculture. Farms across the Commonwealth saw several weeks of warm weather in the early spring that pushed shoots, buds, and blossoms on fruits, vines, and ornamental trees, and promoted development in small grain crops. Following this warm period, the Commonwealth saw widespread freezing temperatures, with some areas recording temperatures in the 20s across multiple nights in March and April. According to reports provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), losses are well above the 30 percent disaster trigger as a result of these freezing temperatures, with some growers anticipating a 100 percent loss.
“Virginia agriculture and forestry have seen their share of unpredictable weather events, but I have heard from several growers that this level of crop loss and devastation from a late spring freeze event is the worst in a generation,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier. “Our farmers work tirelessly to put food on our tables, and this federal designation is important to ensuring they have the necessary resources for what we know will be a multi-year recovery process. With recovery ongoing, the Commonwealth will continue to work with federal partners, our congressional delegation, and the industry to support our producers.”
The Secretarial Disaster Declaration makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for FSA emergency loan assistance, credit extensions, and potential future relief programs through FSA, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loans. These programs provide essential assistance to farmers who now face the prospect of paying for inputs, labor, and debt-service for crops that will not yield a harvest and generate income in 2026. We encourage impacted farmers and growers to contact their county USDA FSA office to review eligible disaster assistance programs and begin any necessary application processes.
Source - https://www.wdbj7.com
