USDA Issues Disaster Declaration for Maryland Following Spring Freeze
MARYLAND – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins has officially issued a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for the State of Maryland following this past April’s freeze.
The declaration follows a formal request submitted by Governor Wes Moore at the end of May to address the damage sustained by the State’s agricultural sector. This provides eligible producers with access to federal disaster assistance and low-interest emergency loans to help support their recovery.
“When our agricultural community faces unprecedented climate challenges through no fault of their own, it is our duty to respond with urgency. We are grateful to Secretary Rollins and our federal partners at the USDA for their swift, collaborative response,” Governor Moore said. “This disaster declaration provides a vital financial safety net to keep our hardworking family farms operational so they can continue to feed Maryland families while putting food on their own tables.”
Governor Moore went on to thank the Maryland Farm Bureau (MDFB) and Maryland’s Congressional Delegation for their partnership in this effort. MDFB launched an internal statewide damage survey in the aftermath of the freeze, in which almost 90 impacted growers reported an average estimated production loss of 67.5 percent across frost-damaged crops. Supported by their data, the organization sent a formal petition to the USDA to expedite their declaration, and supported state directives issued by Governor Moore to address the freeze.
“Since the days immediately following the late April frost, Maryland Farm Bureau has constantly stressed the need for assistance for our hardworking farmers who were affected by this extreme weather event,” said MDFB President Jamie Raley. “We are grateful to the USDA and our partners in government for giving our farmers this much needed relief and security for them to keep going.”
The declaration identifies 12 Maryland counties as primary natural disaster areas; those are Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Washington, and Wicomico Counties. Additionally, Allegany, Anne Arundel, Harford, Kent, Prince George’s, Talbot, Worcester, and Baltimore Counties have been designated as contiguous disaster counties.
Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD01) commended the USDA’s declaration, acknowledging the April freeze has disparate impacts on farms in Maryland’s First District.
“I was glad to work with Secretary Brooke Rollins to secure this disaster declaration and provide the relief our producers need,” said Congressman Harris. “As Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ll continue working directly with USDA to ensure Maryland farmers receive the federal support available as they recover.”
Impacted farmers and growers are strongly encouraged to contact their county USDA Farm Service Agency office to review eligible disaster assistance programs and begin the application process.
To learn more about USDA resources for impacted farmers, click here.
