The USDA has announced disaster assistance to help growers recover from recent freeze events caused by below-freezing temperatures that occurred April 19 to April 21.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan met with agricultural leaders in Pennsylvania to announce the disaster designation for 17 counties in the state.
“Our farmers cannot control the weather, but Washington can make sure they are not left to shoulder these losses alone,” Bresnahan says. “The April freeze devastated orchards and specialty crop producers across Pennsylvania, and this declaration will help get critical relief to the growers who keep our communities fed and our agricultural economy strong. I’m grateful to Secretary Rollins for working with us to deliver support for Pennsylvania farmers.”
This natural disaster declaration allows the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs, including the replacement of essential items, reorganization of a farming operation or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
Growers in Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, and York Counties have until Jan. 26, 2027, to apply for these emergency loans. Additionally, USDA says the agency is reviewing disaster designations for the remaining counties in Pennsylvania and is gathering data.
“Fighting for our farmers means being there for them when Mother Nature hits, today we are showing that USDA stands with Pennsylvania agriculture — and we will continue working to ensure producers have the support they need to recover and move forward,” Rollins says. “This designation is a first step forward to help agricultural producers access emergency loans and programs in the aftermath of freezing temperatures. Under President Trump, USDA will continue to put farmers first and make sure they have the resources they need.”
