New Jersey secures federal disaster designation for farmers affected by April freeze
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey farmers impacted by a damaging April freeze are now eligible for federal emergency assistance after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a disaster designation covering all 21 counties in the state.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the designation Thursday, saying it follows efforts by the state and federal lawmakers to secure relief for agricultural producers who suffered significant crop losses during an unseasonable cold snap.
“Federal relief is now within reach for New Jersey farmers.
“After an April cold snap dealt millions of dollars in losses to farms across our state, I declared a State of Emergency and wrote to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, urging a Disaster Designation for New Jersey. Through a whole-of-government recovery effort, we secured it for all 21 counties.
“This designation makes New Jersey farmers eligible for low-interest emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency, a critical first step toward recovering from their crop losses. For a family farm, the difference between a lost season and a fresh start often comes down to whether help arrives in time.
“But government cannot do this alone. Now we must stand behind our farming community. Visit a nearby farm. Buy local. Show up for your neighbors. Every dollar spent at a New Jersey farm stand is a vote of confidence in the people who feed us.
“We will keep cutting through bureaucracy and accelerating results for the farmers and families who were hit. We got right to work, and we will keep working until our farmers are back on their feet.”
A USDA disaster designation is an official recognition that a natural disaster has caused severe agricultural losses. The designation allows eligible farmers to apply for low-interest emergency loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency to help recover from crop damage and other losses.
State officials said the request was supported by advocacy from state and federal lawmakers and was reinforced by a letter from Sherrill urging federal action.
The April freeze caused millions of dollars in agricultural losses across New Jersey, affecting farms throughout the state. Officials said the federal designation is a key step in helping farmers access resources needed to recover and continue operations.
