Gov. Ned Lamont announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved his request for Connecticut to receive a federal agriculture disaster declaration due to the heavy rainfall that occurred in early July and caused significant flood damage to the state”™s farms and crops.
Under this declaration, eligible farms in all eight of Connecticut”™s counties can apply for federal disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency, including emergency loans to cover production losses they experienced as a result of the severe weather event.
This is the second agriculture disaster declaration issued by the USDA for Connecticut this year. In July, an agriculture disaster declaration for the state was issued to cover the damage created by an abnormal sub-freezing weather event that occurred in on May 18.
“This has been a tough year for Connecticut”™s farmers with severe weather events causing significant crop damage and resulting in production losses that are financially impacting these small, locally owned businesses,” Lamont said in a statement. “The approval of this federal agriculture disaster declaration means that farmers will have access to support so they can continue their incredibly valuable operations.”
