Niagara Leader

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on June 27, 2023 sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to swiftly approve any New York Disaster Declarations in response to the May 18th frost that caused significant damage and loss to crops across large portions of New York’s Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley regions.

Additional co-signers of the letter include Reps Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Marcus Molinaro (NY-19), and Brandon Williams (NY-22).

On May 18th, a late-season frost swept through much of Upstate New York and the Hudson Valley, inflicting substantial damage on various agricultural products. The unseasonably warm April caused grape vines and stone fruit trees to exit their winter dormancy early, making them exceptionally vulnerable to freezing temperatures. While the full extent of damage to the apple and stone fruit crop is still unknown, in some parts of the Finger Lakes region, vineyards are estimated to have incurred losses of up to 90% of their crops, potentially requiring the replacement of damaged vines. An especially hard-hit area is the region around Keuka Lake and southern Seneca Lake, where there have been reports that many grape growers have seen a 50-90% loss of their vines. The New York State Department of Agriculture expects to gain a clearer assessment later this summer.

“This recent frost event is one of the most severe experienced in our community in decades, making it imperative our growers receive the aid they need,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Our growers play a vital role in our region's agricultural sector and are integral to our local economy. New York’s 24th District is home to the Finger Lakes region, the heart of New York’s wine industry, which was significantly impacted by this frost. I urge the USDA to promptly prepare for and respond to any disaster declaration requested by New York in order to facilitate the speedy recovery of impacted farmers and communities affected by this devastating event."

Read the full letter here.

Original source can be found here.