Bresnahan, Joyce secure federal freeze relief for PA growers

U.S. Reps. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) and John Joyce (R-PA) this week highlighted federal disaster relief efforts for Pennsylvania farmers following a devastating freeze that damaged orchards and specialty crops across the commonwealth in April.

“Our farmers cannot control the weather, but Washington can make sure they are not left to shoulder these losses alone,” said Rep. Bresnahan, who hosted U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on May 26 for a roundtable discussion with farmers, community leaders, and agricultural stakeholders impacted by the April 20-21 freeze. 

Following the meeting, Rollins signed a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Pennsylvania that will make affected farms eligible for low-interest emergency loans and additional federal disaster relief resources to help manage operational costs and mitigate losses.

“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,” Rep. Bresnahan said. “I’m grateful to Secretary Rollins for working with us to deliver support for Pennsylvania farmers.”

Secretary Rollins said the designation is intended to help producers recover from severe crop losses.

“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 said. 

Rep. Bresnahan last week joined bipartisan members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Joyce, in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve a disaster declaration statewide. 

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