Emergency aid sought for Hudson Valley farms devastated by spring freeze
Factoring in the survival of some apple varieties and the decimation of others, farm owner Danny Deising expects a 30% apple crop in 2026, not nearly enough to break even.
More Stories
The federal government is deciding whether to provide disaster assistance to Hudson Valley farmers because of a recent freeze that ruined row after row of crops.
The state of New York has formally asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a disaster designation to unlock federal aid for local farmers.
Danny Deising, of Meadowbrook Farm in Wappingers Falls, says that in a good year, a Gala apple tree would produce 600 apples.
This year, Deising must sort through the branches, not even finding enough edible apples to fill a bag this fall.
"These little ones don't count because they're all going to fall out like that," he said, pointing out a string of apples that were impacted by abnormally low temperatures the night of April 21.
The freeze affected farms in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region, ruining crops that bloomed early because of hot weather in the weeks prior to the freeze.
New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball requested earlier this month that the USDA designate the Hudson Valley and several upstate counties as agricultural disaster areas. The designation would unlock federal grants and emergency low-interest loans to help farms through the growing and picking seasons.
Officials in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are joining New York to ask for the financial assistance. Several counties in Pennsylvania received the disaster designation earlier this week.
Back in New York, Ball said the freeze caused between $30 and $60 million in losses for farmers.
The apple industry alone generates $574 million in economic impact, according to a press release Friday from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.
Deising used controlled fires and wind machines to salvage some of the "Pick Your Own Apples" area. Factoring in the survival of some apple varieties and the decimation of others, Deising expects a 30% apple crop, not nearly enough to break even.
Other crops, including peaches, plums and pears, were hit particularly hard by the freeze and are expected to fare much worse than the apples.
Deising would likely be a candidate for the federal aid.
"It would certainly help," he said. "You know, you work these long hours, and you work hard, and you still have to take care of these trees regardless. But there's no bounty at the end."
Ball expects the USDA to decide on the disaster designation in the coming weeks. He said he is also lobbying some members of Congress to write legislation that would provide additional emergency aid to the farms.
Hochul said in a statement that crop-killing temperature swings are indicative of a changing climate, and small farmers are bearing the brunt.
"I urge the USDA to take swift action to declare a disaster designation for the impacted counties and help our growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward," the governor wrote. "I also encourage New Yorkers to continue to support their local growers, whether it’s by buying fresh local products from the farm or purchasing the many products made from New York fruit."
