- Agricultural declaration approved for six Connecticut counties related to the remnants of Hurricane Ida
- Declaration allows eligible agricultural firms to qualify for emergency loans and other disaster assistance
- Farmers can still apply for assistance for production losses brought on by Tropical Storm Elsa in July
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Agricultural businesses in Connecticut whose operations were disrupted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in early September are now eligible for disaster relief, Governor Ned Lamont announced.
A federal agricultural disaster declaration was approved for Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties. The declaration allows eligible agricultural firms to qualify for emergency loans and other disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency to cover production losses.
“We’ve had brutal weather this year that has had a significant impact on farm production,” said Lamont. “Farm owners are small business owners, and not only do they provide jobs for many workers but they grow the food on which all of us depend.”
- Farmers have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for aid
- Lamont says farmers should contact their local Farm Service Agency for assistance in preparing an application
- The Farm Service Agency considers applications based on factors such as the extent of production losses and the applicant’s security and repayment ability
- Farmers affected by Tropical Storm Elsa, which struck the region in early July, are still eligible to file for aid under a previously approved disaster declaration
