# USDA Declares Pennsylvania Freeze Disaster

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially declared 17 counties in Pennsylvania as natural disaster areas due to damaging freeze events in April 2026. This declaration enables affected agricultural producers in these counties, as well as in 12 contiguous Pennsylvania counties and 3 counties in Maryland, to apply for emergency loans and recovery assistance through USDA programs. Applications for these emergency loans are being accepted until January 26, 2027. This action facilitates critical financial support to help farmers replace damaged equipment, livestock, and reorganize their operations to recover from the freeze damage.

- USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is the primary agency administering these emergency loan programs, providing procurement professionals with opportunities to support loan processing, outreach, and recovery services.
- The disaster declaration highlights a significant procurement opportunity for vendors specializing in agricultural equipment, livestock replacement, and recovery services in the affected Pennsylvania counties.
- Contractors and service providers should note the January 26, 2027 application deadline for emergency loans, which may drive demand for related services and supplies in the near term.
- This designation underscores the importance of rapid response procurement mechanisms to support agricultural disaster recovery and resilience efforts in the region.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** June 03, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Farm Service Agency (FSA)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA)

### Key Quotes
> Fighting for our farmers means being there for them when Mother Nature hits, today we are showing that USDA stands with Pennsylvania agriculture 	6 and we will continue working to ensure producers have the support they need to recover and move forward.
> — Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

> The April freeze devastated orchards and specialty crop producers across Pennsylvania, and this declaration will help get critical relief to the growers who keep our communities fed and our agricultural economy strong.
> — Rob Bresnahan, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [USDA Designates Five Pennsylvania Counties as Natural Disaster Areas for Freeze | Farm Service Agency](https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/06-02-2026/usda-designates-five-pennsylvania-counties-natural-disaster-areas) - FSA
- [Secretary Rollins Signs Disaster Declaration for Pennsylvania Counties | Farm Service Agency](https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/05-26-2026/secretary-rollins-signs-disaster-declaration-pennsylvania-counties) - FSA
- [Secretary Rollins Signs Disaster Declaration for Pennsylvania Counties | USDA](https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/05/26/secretary-rollins-signs-disaster-declaration-pennsylvania-counties) - USDA