Summer was miserable for farmers across upstate New York. Long stretches of hot weather with no rain created dangerous drought conditions. Now, the USDA says several counties upstate -- including Cayuga County -- is eligible for some financial aid from the federal agency.
Twenty nine counties in Upstate New York have been labeled primary natural disaster areas and will be eligible for aid through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say eight area counties including Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates will qualify for critical loan assistance after suffering a severe drought and crop freeze this past summer.
Farmers in these counties who experienced crop loss of 30 percent or more and are unable to get credit through a lender are now eligible to borrow up to $500,000 in aid.
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