Vermont farmers whose production has suffered because of summer and fall drought conditions can now apply for relief.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) declared drought-related natural disaster conditions in 10 primary counties and all neighboring counties on Wednesday, accounting for the entire state. The designation opens the door to federal emergency relief for the state’s producers, who can apply for emergency loans until July 2021. “There have been crop losses, and there have been expenses incurred to not only pour in water, to irrigate and feed livestock, but also folks are drilling wells,” said Scott Waterman, director of communications for Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. “There’s a definite need for assistance for some of those folks who are heavily impacted.” The designations follow months of abnormally dry and drought conditions in the state. Seven Days reports that farmers have estimated at least $27 million in crop losses as a result. In August, Waterman urged farmers who had suffered losses to contact state officials. Reports of a 30% crop loss or more would help the state compile a compelling case for the emergency declaration, he wrote in a post on the agency’s webpage. The Champlain Valley was hit particularly hard. “It seemed, based on what the USDA heard for feedback, that a real ribbon of the state down through the Champlain corridor, through Addison County, southern Chittenden County, and on down into Bennington was where the drought was heavily focused,” Waterman said. Loren Wood owns Woodnotch Farms Inc., a dairy farm in Shoreham. He said his hay and corn crops were significantly affected by the dry conditions. “The corn was stunted right from the start,” he said. “I’d say we had like two-thirds of a crop.”USA - Farmers eligible for aid following drought-related disaster declarations
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