Secretary Rollins signs Disaster Declaration after April freeze devastates PA farms

SCOTT TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Farmers, community leaders, and agricultural stakeholders met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Congressman Rob Bresnahan following a late-season April freeze that caused widespread damage to local agriculture.

After discussions on the freeze’s impact, Secretary Rollins signed a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at Applewood Farm.

The freeze on April 20 and 21 caused major damage to farms across Pennsylvania and the Northeast, affecting crops and resulting in significant economic losses.

In response, Secretary Rollins signed a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for 17 Pennsylvania counties. Congressman Rob explained what this means for local farmers.

“Across our farms and orchards, our farmers are reporting widespread and in many cases, near total losses. There are family farms that keep our rural economy moving. And right now, they are facing real hardships. So, the importance of that Disaster Declaration, it's not just symbolic, it's truly a lifeline,” said Bresnahan.

“It unlocks USDA disaster assistance and emergency loan support so our farmers can stay afloat, cover cost, and prepare for next season. The reality is, the fixed costs remain. Whether you actually produce your product or not, the costs are still very real. This is the difference between recovery and quite possibly shutting their doors. Our farmers are resilient, but they shouldn't have to carry this burden alone,” said Bresnahan.

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Secretary Rollins also announced that the USDA is adding up to 30 million new base acres to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.