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September 3, 2021

Farms offered aid from extreme weather damage 

PHOTO | Pixabay.com
By Liese Klein

As the state continues to clean up from the rains of Ida, farmers who sustained damages from the winds of Tropical Storm Elsa in early July have been promised help from the federal government. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved an “agriculture disaster declaration” for Connecticut farmers who lost crops due to Elsa, Gov. Ned Lamont announced this week. 

Farmers in all of the state’s eight counties are eligible for disaster aid from the Farm Service Agency to cover production losses from the storm. The aid includes emergency loans.

State Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said, “Last year Connecticut farmers were facing drought conditions and this year has brought significant rainfall and flooding conditions. Agricultural producers throughout the state have experienced significant losses of food production and livestock crops.”

Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loans at their local Farm Service Agency office. Loans are issued based on a farm’s production losses and the security and repayment ability of the farmer. 

Other federal aid available includes funds from the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program and the Tree Assistance Program.

Tropical Storm Elsa hit with high winds and rainfall between 1.5 to 5 inches. The rainfall total from Wednesday’s Tropical Storm Ida topped 5 inches in some areas of the state and Lamont declared a state of emergency as flood damage has mounted. 

On Thursday, state officials urged farmers to report crop damage or loss due to Ida’s rains to their local Farm Service Agency so the state could apply for additional federal funds.

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

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