Governor O’Malley Requests USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation to Help Farmers Recover from Snowstorm Related Losses

16 of 23 Counties Report Excessive Damage to Farm Property

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 2, 2010) –Governor Martin O’Malley has requested that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issue a Secretarial Disaster Designation as a result of agricultural damage sustained during the historic snow storms in February.  The Governor has requested that all Maryland counties that meet the threshold for the designation be included in the designation so that producers may receive assistance that becomes available.

“Maryland agricultural producers experienced excessive losses of structures, equipment, crops—including nursery crops—and livestock as a result of the blizzards in February,” said Governor O’Malley. “We want to make sure that we’ve done everything we can to see that all available assistance is triggered.  On behalf of Maryland farmers, I thank Sec. Vilsack for acting quickly upon this request so that appropriate relief can be made available to eligible producers.”

Through its assessments, the Maryland State Office of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has indicated that individual farm operations in 16 of the state’s 23 counties sustained excessive damage and in some cases total losses of livestock, structures, crops and equipment. Counties that FSA has identified are: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s Anne Arundel, Harford, Cecil, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset.  If the designation is made, all adjacent counties are automatically included.  FSA estimates damage at almost $10 million.

A disaster designation would make low interest loans and revenue assistance available to eligible producers.  In addition, MDA has compiled a wide variety of resources available to help farmers recover from the snow storms. It is available online.

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