Tropical Storm Elsa

USDA Issues Statewide Farmland Disaster Declaration

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FSA logoGovernor Ned Lamont announced late yesterday that farmers statewide will be able to apply for emergency disaster loans due to production loss based upon severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Elsa. Farmers have eight (8) months from yesterday’s date to apply for federal assistance.

Please contact your local FSA office to discuss emergency assistance that may be available to each agricultural producer.

We will continue to monitor potential disaster losses resulting from this evening’s remnants of Tropical Storm Ida. Should this storm prove worthy of the estimated rainfall, please report further crop losses arising from this evening’s storm to your local FSA office as soon as possible.

CT Department of Ag. Urges Farmers to Report Crop Damage or Loss from Tropical Storm Elsa to USDA Farm Service Agency

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vegetables in a wheelbarrow in a greenhouse
Photo: USDA

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers and agricultural producers who may have experienced crop damage or loss due to Tropical Storm Elsa to declare a loss to their United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office. Crop losses can be modified after the initial reporting as necessary.

The damage assessment for a USDA disaster declaration is based on a 30% loss of any crop per county.  Only losses reported within that initial three-day window count towards the 30% threshold.

 

 

Reports should include:

  • Crops damaged
  • Total acre(s) planted per crop(s)
  • # of acres destroyed or % of crop destroyed per crop
  • Livestock damage
  • Physical damage to equipment, buildings, fencing, trees, or damage caused by erosion

It is critical that producers keep accurate records to document damage or loss and report those losses to their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible. For more information on disaster assistance, visit farmers.gov.