MARLBORO – Over a dozen farmers from Ulster and Orange counties gathered in Marlboro along with State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties), Ulster Executive Jen Metzger and Rep. Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) to call on the USDA to approve an emergency declaration for the Mid-Hudson in the wake of the April deep freeze that destroyed much of the early crops in this agricultural area.
Everyone agreed that timely action on the funding is long overdue, and Ryan said all involved must keep the heat on Washington.
“We have to up the volume on the pressure on the federal Department of Agriculture. We have done all the initial work – the governor requested a declaration – all the data has been gathered, but if we are not a very loud and frequent voice, I worry that we won’t get the support that we need,” he said. “So, I’m asking for everybody’s help.”
Hinchey said the front caused extensive damage to the early fruit and vegetable growing season.
Metzger called the growing season catastrophic, and State Assemblyman Johathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) said pressure must be kept on Washington to get a disaster declaration for farmers.
Jeff Crist of Walden said the freeze devastated much of his apple crop. Bill Borchert of Borchert Farms said agricultural is very dependent upon the weather and the April freeze killed off between 75 percent and 1p0 percent of some farm crops.
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