June 18, 2008
Governor Paterson
NYS
Capitol Building
Second Floor
Albany, New York 12224
Dear Governor;
On behalf of New York
Farm Bureau, I am writing to urge you to request the necessary disaster
declaration from the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to
ensure that our farmers are eligible for federal disaster programs as a
result of the recent hail storm.
The damage has been
extremely severe, at a time when New York farmers were looking forward to
taking advantage of the increased demand for local products.
It is truly unfortunate and
illustrates the risks of farming and the precariousness of Mother Nature.
It’s important to know that the damage extends from the Western New
York “muck lands” in Elba, a primary vegetable producing area, to Wayne
County, the largest apple producing county, to the farther end of Columbia
County and the many apple farms located in the Kinderhook region.
Estimates are rough, but almost 1/3 of the state’s apple crop is
affected.
Some fruit may still
be harvested, but it will go into juice and apple sauce at a drastically
reduced value to the farmer.
Field crops like corn and soybeans were also damaged; however it is early in
the growing season and those crops may come back.
After the Farm Services
Agency, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, finalizes
the damage estimates, it is customary for the Governor of the State of New
York to send a letter requesting that the Secretary of Agriculture issue an
agricultural disaster declaration covering the counties impacted by the
storm.
The declaration is
specific to agricultural losses only.
An agricultural disaster
declaration issued by the Secretary of Agriculture at the request of the
Governor is necessary to ensure that our farm families are eligible for
federal disaster loan and replanting programs, as well as the disaster
assistance program that was just approved as part of the new Farm Bill.
New York Farm Bureau would sincerely appreciate your assistance in
requesting such a declaration, as soon as the Farm Services Agency and the
Department of Agriculture and Markets have all of the necessary information.
Thank you for your
assistance.
Please do not
hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
John W. Lincoln,
President
New York Farm Bureau
