US Department of Agriculture approves drought relief for CT farmers

This is the latest Connecticut drought update from US Drought Monitor.

All eight Connecticut counties have received disaster declarations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture following the ongoing drought, Gov. Ned Lamont announced.

The designation means farmers in the state are eligible to be considered for certain Farm Service Agency disaster relief, such as emergency loans, provided the eligibility requirements are met. The FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the safety and repayment capacity of the farmer.

Farmers interested in applying for the aid should contact their local FSA office. For Connecticut office locations, click here.

“The USDA disaster declaration will help Connecticut farmers mitigate losses and additional expenses incurred due to the drought,” Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said in a statement.

“The impacts were widespread across the state as producers worked to keep fields irrigated, hauled water when wells dried up, and suffered significant losses in food production and livestock crops. .”

Last week, the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup, a state entity made up of representatives from multiple state agencies, raised the drought status for four Connecticut counties — Hartford, New London, Tolland and Windham — to Stage 3.

Middlesex and Litchfield counties remain in Stage 2, and Fairfield and New Haven counties remain in Stage 1. The highest drought stage as specified by the Drought Preparedness and Response Plan of the Connecticut is stage 5.