By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky produce growers, who were left with little hope for a productive growing season due to the early spring freeze in April, got a little good news last week.
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher received word from the USDA that all 120 counties are now eligible for low-interest, emergency loans. Fletcher had made a statewide disaster designation request on April 17 after the state’s produce industry suffered a major blow due to what is being referred to as the Easter Freeze.
“I am pleased (USDA) Secretary (Mike) Johanns has made USDA emergency assistance available to farmers across the Commonwealth,” Fletcher said. “Kentucky experienced lower than normal temperatures resulting in crop losses throughout the entire state. We appreciate the USDA’s work to help protect our Kentucky farmers.”
Upon Fletcher’s request, the USDA determined that 118 counties sustained sufficient production losses to warrant a disaster designation after reviewing damage assessment reports and other related information. Two counties were deemed eligible as adjacent counties.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer welcomed the news and said, “I am grateful to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns for this declaration. This will give thousands of Kentucky farmers the means to recover from the freeze damage.”
John Strang, University of Kentucky Extension fruit and vegetable specialist, said last week that Kentucky lost $16.35 million of its $19 million fruit crop due to the freeze. He also said 95 percent of Kentucky’s apple crop was lost for an estimated economic loss of nearly $7.8 million in retail sales. The peach crop was a 98 percent loss valued at $2.74 million. Sixty percent of the strawberry crop was lost for a $1.76 million economic hit.
The grape crop suffered a 60 percent loss valued at an estimated $1.49 million.
Strang pointed out that the state hadn’t seen a loss like this in apples and peaches since 1955.
Kaan Kurtural, UK College of Agriculture viticulturist said it was an event of historic proportions.
“It wasn’t like a normal spring radiation frost event, it was an advective freeze with lots of wind, that is difficult to protect against,” he said. “A 500-mile band from Canada affected growers from Michigan to Atlanta.”
While the low interest loans will help, Strang said that growers need consumers’ support to get through this devastating year.
“I want to encourage consumers to support our growers,” he stressed. “They’ll still have a lot of vegetables, some fruit and a lot of value-added products. They will be financially stressed this year and they need the support of the consumers. We all like the green areas and locally grown fruit in Kentucky, but if our growers aren’t financially stable we aren’t going to be able keep our green areas.”
Commissioner Farmer is encouraging producers to sign up for emergency loans at local Farm Service Agency offices. For more information, visit an FSA office or visit the USDA’s website at www.usda.gov This farm news was published in the June 13, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
