Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
05/08/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2026 13:27
Governor Shapiro, Secretary Redding Call for Expedited Federal Support for Pennsylvania Growers Impacted by Devastating Crop Freeze
May 08, 2026 - Lancaster, PA
Governor Shapiro, Secretary Redding Call for Expedited Federal Support for Pennsylvania Growers Impacted by Devastating Crop Freeze
Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Cherry Hill Orchards in Lancaster County to meet with local growers impacted by the devastating freeze in April and call on the federal government to quickly deploy more support for Pennsylvania farmers. Earlier today, the Governor a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requesting a Secretarial Disaster Designation and urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expedite disaster assistance for Pennsylvania farmers affected by the April freeze, including faster damage assessments that will help growers begin filing crop insurance claims.
As the Shapiro Administration continues to assess widespread crop damage and push for federal assistance for Pennsylvania growers, Governor Shapiro is calling on the federal government for their support in helping growers recover financially and maintain long-term market stability. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is exploring additional flexibility with appropriated state funds to respond to this situation and working with Penn State Extension to collect early industry assessments.
"My Administration has prioritized Pennsylvania agriculture from day one because we know farming powers our economy, feeds our communities, and sustains our rural communities. Right now, Pennsylvania farmers are facing catastrophic losses through no fault of their own, and they deserve a federal government that moves with urgency," said Governor Shapiro. "I've called on USDA to cut through delays, expedite the disaster declaration, and ensure farmers receive the assistance and crop insurance support they need to recover and keep their operations moving forward. We will continue to have the backs of our farmers and make sure we explore every option at our disposal to help them through this crisis."
Speaker List:
Corey McCleaf, Cherry Hill Orchards
Governor Josh Shapiro
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
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