Northeast Farmers: What to Know About New Disaster Recovery Grant Programs

Northeast farmers have faced significant challenges from severe weather events in recent years. For producers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine impacted by weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024, funding has been made available to help recover losses, rebuild operations and strengthen long-term business resilience. The program is funded through USDA resources and administered by state departments of agriculture.

An Opportunity to Support Farm Recovery

Weather-related losses can extend beyond a single growing season. Reduced production, damaged infrastructure and lost future income can affect profitability, cash flow and business continuity.

New disaster recovery programs available in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine provide financial assistance to help eligible producers recover from documented weather-related losses and restore their operations.

Crop Production Loss provides assistance for eligible crop revenue losses resulting from qualifying weather events.

Infrastructure Loss provides assistance for damage to agricultural structures and farm infrastructure.

Future Economic Loss provides assistance for perennial crop losses that may result in multiple years of lost production while crops are replanted and reach maturity.

Who May Be Eligible?

Agricultural producers may be eligible if they experienced eligible weather-related losses during 2023 and/or 2024, can document those losses and meet program requirements. Eligibility and payment amounts vary by program category.

Programs by State

Connecticut: Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant

Each loss category has a $500 minimum eligible loss threshold. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture recommends gathering a W-9, Connecticut Certificate of Legal Existence, FSA Farm Number if applicable, Tax Parcel ID and physical address for each associated property, and an IRS Schedule F or other approved documentation for applicable years. Additional requirements vary by loss category. Producers are also encouraged to view the state’s updated FAQ page here.

Learn more

Massachusetts: Natural Disaster Recovery II Program for Agriculture (NDRII) (2023-2024)

The Natural Disaster Recovery II (NDRII) Program for Agriculture covers a broad range of qualifying losses, including crop losses, future economic losses from perennial plantings, timber losses, infrastructure losses, and certain land restoration activities needed to mitigate land damage resulting from severe weather events.

Beyond helping producers recover losses, the Massachusetts program is specifically focused on supporting farm sustainability, rebuilding resilience and helping operations continue production following weather-related disasters. This makes the program particularly valuable for farms that continue to experience the long-term effects of 2023 and 2024 weather events.

Applications are currently scheduled to close on September 30, 2026.

Learn more and apply

Maine: Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NRDRAP)

Maine's Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NRDRAP) provides some of the broadest disaster assistance available in the region. In addition to traditional crop losses, the program covers qualifying aquaculture losses, standing timber losses, harvested timber losses, on-farm infrastructure losses, and land-loss mitigation practices resulting from severe weather events in 2023 and 2024.

The application period runs through November 6, 2026, and technical assistance is available to help producers complete their applications. Producers are encouraged to begin assembling records that document losses, ownership interests and damage-related expenses as part of the application process.

Learn more and apply

How Farm Credit East Can Help

Disaster assistance is one part of a comprehensive risk management strategy. Understanding potential eligibility, organizing documentation and evaluating how assistance fits into a business recovery plan can be complex.

Your Farm Credit East team can help you approach recovery planning from multiple perspectives. Your tax advisor can help you organize applicable tax records and consider potential tax implications, while your Crop Growers risk management specialist can help you evaluate crop insurance as part of your risk mitigation plan going forward. Together, we can help you connect available assistance, financial planning and risk management decisions to support profitability, resilience and long-term success.

Action Steps for Connecticut Producers

1. Review weather-related losses from 2023 and 2024.
2. Determine which program category may apply to your operation.
3. Gather financial, production, property and tax records.
4. Monitor program updates and application announcements.
5. Schedule a discussion with your Farm Credit East advisor, tax advisor and Crop Growers risk management specialist to evaluate recovery, documentation and crop insurance considerations.

Ready to evaluate how this program may fit into your farm's recovery plan? Contact your Farm Credit East loan officer, tax advisor or Crop Growers risk management specialist to review documentation needs, financial considerations and crop insurance options for the future.

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