Vermont Governor Phil Scott is taking action to secure crucial disaster relief for the state's farmers who suffered significant losses due to a damaging frost on May 17 and 18.
The frost, with temperatures plunging below freezing and reaching as low as 20 degrees in some areas, wreaked havoc on fruit blossoms and vineyards across the state. The severity of the cold snap led experts to describe it as the worst freeze damage in over 25 years.
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, Governor Scott highlighted the extensive and pervasive damage caused by the frost, emphasizing the lack of crop insurance coverage for most of Vermont's orchards and vineyards. The freezing temperatures were not limited to Vermont alone, as neighboring states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and others in New England also experienced frost.
Governor Scott's plea for disaster relief is echoed by agriculture secretaries, commissioners, and directors throughout the region who are requesting additional aid from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Without assistance, the officials warn of potential downsizing and closures, which would deliver devastating blows to local economies.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets urges affected farmers to report their losses to their local USDA Farm Services Agency office. A Secretarial Disaster Designation would unlock vital financial assistance, including low-interest USDA Farm Service Agency emergency loans, to support eligible producers in the affected counties.
The governor's petition serves as a rallying cry for support, aiming to alleviate the hardships faced by Vermont's farmers and safeguard the agricultural industry from further economic downturns caused by this unforeseen natural disaster.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-creativenature-nl
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy