USDA Designates 10 Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas from May Freeze, 7 Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas from July Rain and Flooding

This natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Triggering Disaster: Freeze occurring from 5/17/2023 – 5/18/2023

Application Deadline: March 11, 2024 

Primary Counties Eligible: Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Worcester

Triggering Disaster: Rain and Flooding from 07/09/2023 – 07/16/2023

Application Deadline: 03/31/2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Berkshire, Bristol, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Norfolk, Worcester

For more information on Flooding Relief click here.

For more information of Frost Loss Relief click here.

MA Farm Resiliency Fund, Managed by United Way of Central Massachusetts, Open for Donations to Make Swift Aid Available to Farmers

The MA Farm Resiliency Fund was created by the United Way of Central Massachusetts (UWCM) with the intention of both responding to the recent storm impact in western and central Mass, as well as having long-term potential to respond to how climate is affecting our farms.

The Fund Will Support:

• Farmers and their families and their livelihood affected by natural disasters;
• Crops – the food that is grown locally that provides nourishment;
• Children and Families, Seniors, Veterans – who use Food Banks and local food pantries to combat hunger and work toward food security;
• The economy – of the region and the state. There are 7,241 farms in Massachusetts, comprising 491,653 acres and employing 25,920 people. These farms generate $475,000,000 for the Massachusetts economy.

State and government officials, philanthropic partners and private foundations have joined together to raise significant dollars to aid farmers affected by these devastating losses due to severe weather. To ensure farmers can recover as quickly as possible, all funds will be distributed rapidly through a deliberate selection process.

For more information, visit the website here, or contact me at ian@berkshiregrown.org