MARLBORO, NY – New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Congressman Pat Ryan, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, Hudson Valley farmers, and members of the Ulster County Legislature are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a Secretarial Disaster Designation for New York farmers following widespread crop losses caused by an unprecedented late April freeze. Fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop growers across the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, Central New York, Southern Tier, and Western New York have suffered major damage, with crop losses ranging from 15 to 100 percent, and an estimated economic fallout exceeding $30 million. 

 

At a press conference held at Borchert Orchards, a third-generation family farm in Marlboro, where around 70 to 90 percent of their orchards sustained damage, farmers representing over 20 Hudson Valley farms and elected leaders underscored the dire need for a USDA Disaster Designation. The designation would provide impacted farmers access to USDA low-interest emergency loans to help stabilize their operations. The press event comes on the heels of Senator Hinchey’s request for a Disaster Designation, in a letter signed by a bipartisan group of State Senators and Assembly Members, as well as requests issued by Rep. Pat Ryan, regional county executives, and a Memorializing Resolution by the Ulster County Legislature. 

 

On top of advocating for a federal Disaster Designation, Senator Hinchey is also fighting for her legislation to establish the Farm Security Resiliency Grant program. This would be New York’s first statewide initiative to provide grant support so farmers can recover when their crops are destroyed by unexpected and extreme weather, providing a safety net as major climate-driven events become more frequent and severe. This type of program is needed because many small- and mid-size New York farm businesses do not qualify for federal crop insurance under these circumstances. 

 

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Hudson Valley farms were hit hardest by April’s catastrophic spring freeze, with some losing as much as 90 to 100% of their harvests. These businesses feed our communities and power our economy, which is why we need the USDA to declare a Disaster Designation immediately to help ensure they survive one of the worst growing seasons our region has faced in decades. For many small and mid-size specialty growers, the challenge is even greater because they either don’t have crop insurance or have limited coverage that was designed for much larger farms in other parts of the country, leaving them with virtually nothing when disasters like this strike. That’s why, months before this whiplash weather event, I introduced legislation to create the Farm Security Resiliency Grant program to help our family farms and provide a reliable lifeline in situations like this. This must be a call to action for our federal and state partners to deliver both immediate relief from the USDA and the long-term solutions needed to protect our economy and our family farms.”

 

“The freeze this spring was absolutely devastating to our farmers and growers in the Hudson Valley. Hearing and seeing the damage firsthand makes clear we need urgent action. Many of our apple growers told me they lost nearly 100% of their crop,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Our community needs the USDA to step up and do their job – now. For weeks now, we’ve been pushing at every level an official Disaster Designation that would unlock millions of dollars in emergency grants and resources to help farmers and growers begin to recover from the estimated $30 million loss. I’ll keep fighting tooth and nail to make sure Secretary Rollins understands the on-the-ground impacts and acts with urgency.”

 

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said, “This spring freeze was catastrophic for our orchards and vineyards, wiping out as much as 90 percent of some growers’ crops. I’ve toured farms and spoken directly with growers who are facing enormous financial strain — especially our smaller operations. This is a disaster, plain and simple, and I urge the USDA to provide the needed designation so farmers can access the emergency support they urgently need. I want to thank Governor Hochul for swiftly recognizing the severity of this crisis and formally requesting federal action, and I want to thank Congressman Ryan, Senator Hinchey, and members of the Ulster County Legislature for standing with our farmers and pushing hard alongside us. Our farmers cannot shoulder this alone — we need federal action now.”

 

Ulster County Legislator Laura Donovan, District 11, Town of Marlborough, said, “The farms of Marlborough - and farms across our region - are worth fighting for. Not only because of what they grow today, but because of the generations that came before us and the generations that will continue farming long after we’re gone.”

 

Stephen Borchert of Borchert Orchards in Marlboro said, “If you've farmed long enough, you know every season brings its challenges. But what happened on April 21st wasn't just another tough year. In more than 40 years of farming, we've never seen a freeze event cause this kind of widespread damage. People sometimes think a freeze just takes away this year's crop. The truth is, it takes away an entire year's worth of work. Walking through our orchards the next morning was one of the hardest days we've ever experienced on this farm. This wasn't just one farm's problem—it affected family farms across the Hudson Valley and throughout New York State. When farms like ours suffer losses like this, the impact reaches far beyond the orchard. It affects our employees, local businesses, packing houses, farm markets, and the future of agriculture in our region. A USDA disaster declaration won't replace what we've lost, but it can provide the support family farms need to recover and keep farming. At the same time, we need a crop insurance system that reflects the realities of specialty crop growers. If we want family farms to survive here in New York for the next generation, we need a safety net that actually works.”

 

Jeff Crist of Crist Brothers Orchards said, “In April, Crist Bros. Orchards experienced an extreme freeze, for many hours, when some apple trees were already in full bloom. Crop loss and damage are extensive, despite the use of many frost protection wind machines. The damage ranges by site and variety from 100% loss, to a partial crop with frost scarred apples. We are grateful for the support of our representatives, USDA's past assistance, and request assistance for this freeze event that has affected farms up and down the east coast. We're also grateful for Senator Hinchey's leadership on the Farm Security Resiliency Grant. A dedicated state fund like this would give farms an important safety net when weather events like this one hit.”

 

"The April frost was a devastating event for many farms in New York, and orchards were particularly hard hit. A USDA-issued Disaster Designation would help farms like mine get loans that can be helpful as we continue to face economic and weather-related challenges. Even more critically, I fully support Senator Hinchey’s farm resiliency grant program as a vital lifeboat to help farmers make ends meet without imposing the burden of additional debt," said Tim Dressel, owner of Dressel Farms/Kettleborough Cider House and New York Farm Bureau Board Member.

 

Hinchey and elected leaders were joined by more than 20 Hudson Valley farms affected by the freeze. Marlboro was well represented with Prospect Hill Orchards, Nightingale Farm, Quimby Farms, Quartz Rock Vineyard, Locust Grove, Overlook Orchards, Porpiglia Farms, Hudson River Fruit Distributors, Benmarl Winery, Fjord Vineyards, Fourth Quarter Farm, Hepworth Farms, and Caradonna Farms all in attendance. Other farms present included Dembroski Orchards in Plattekill; Dressel Farms and Kettleborough Cider House in New Paltz; Hurd's Family Farm in Modena; Pavero Apples in Highland; Rose Hill Farm in Red Hook; Crist Brothers Orchards in Walden; Clarkes Family Farm in Modena; and Wright’s Farm in Gardiner.