Full Breakdown
USDA Approves Emergency Loans for New York Farmers After Spring Weather Disasters
7/28/2026, 3:46:35 AM
Core Event
On July 23 federal officials approved a Secretarial Disaster Designation for 32 New York counties, authorizing low-interest emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency. Farmers may borrow up to 100 % of documented production or physical losses, capped at $500,000, and must submit applications by March 23 2027. The designation covers Long Island, Central New York, Western New York, the North Country, the Southern Tier, the Finger Lakes, the Capital Region, and the Mohawk and Hudson Valley regions.
Background & Context
The USDA order consolidates five separate weather events that occurred from March 31 to May 14, including rain, floods, wind, hail and a severe April freeze that devastated fruit crops. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets reported more than $30 million in local-economy losses. Crop damage ranged from 15 % to 100 %, with some farms losing 90 % of their harvests, especially apples, grapes, stone fruit and strawberries. Earlier, a February blizzard that dumped up to 30 inches of snow on Long Island and produced 80-mile-per-hour winds caused five deaths, coastal flooding, power outages for over 40,000 households and the closure of more than 175 school districts. Governor Kathy Hochul’s request for FEMA Public Assistance for that storm was denied on July 2.
Official Statements & Responses
- Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger praised the action, saying the USDA’s response “addresses the devastation” (see Verbatim Quotes).
- USDA Deputy Under Secretary Brooke Appleton signed the disaster designation after months of advocacy by Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
- State Senator Michelle Hinchey introduced S-8707A, a Farm Security Resiliency Grant Program that would reimburse up to $150,000 per farm annually for weather-related losses.
Data & Statistics
- Loan eligibility: up to $500,000 per producer.
- Reported crop losses: 15 %–100 % across affected counties; some orchards lost 90 % of output.
- Economic impact of the February blizzard: 5 deaths, 30 inches of snow, 40,000 households without power, and widespread school and transportation disruptions.
What’s Next
Senator Hinchey’s grant proposal is pending legislative action. If enacted, the program would provide up to $150,000 per applicant per year to offset out-of-pocket costs from severe weather, creating a state-level safety net for New York’s agricultural sector.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am thrilled and relieved that USDA Secretary Rollins has responded to our call and issued a Disaster Designation for Ulster County farms and other New York farms devastated by April’s extreme weather,” — Ulster County Executive Jen
