More than three years after catastrophic flooding damaged farms and destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of crops across the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts farmers will soon be able to apply for $42 million in federal disaster relief funding.
The funding represents Massachusetts’ share of a $220 million New England disaster relief block grant approved by Congress in late 2024. Announced on Monday by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, the program is intended to help small and midsize farms recover from crop losses and damage to farm infrastructure caused by severe weather in 2023 and 2024.
McGovern and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, authored the legislation creating the program, which then-President Joe Biden signed into law in December 2024.
According to McGovern’s office, he and DeLauro pressured U.S. Department of Agriculture officials through letters, phone calls and meetings to release the funding after Biden signed it into law. Massachusetts has since finalized its agreement with the USDA and will begin accepting applications from eligible farmers this week.
“I’m thrilled our farmers will finally get the relief they were promised,” McGovern said in a statement. “Trump Administration policies are raising costs on producers and making it even harder to farm. This funding will not only help farmers recover from devastating losses, but it will also help Massachusetts continue to build a resilient regional food system that will feed families across our commonwealth.”
Impacted farmers can apply for aid on the state’s website.
The federal assistance follows a total of $35 million in state disaster relief approved after the 2023 floods, funding championed by former state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, and state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton.
These funds have been expended, but since 2023, the state has enacted more measures to prevent flooding and help with recovery after flooding events.
In the aftermath of the flooding, the two state lawmakers also filed legislation to establish a permanent disaster relief fund to provide municipalities with faster access to emergency aid following natural or manmade disasters.
“The Healey administration is really tuned into the flooding of the Connecticut [River],” Comerford said on Monday.
A total of $48 million has been set aside as part of a sustained funding source. Comerford said she has also advanced an environmental bond bill that, if signed into law, would set aside $60 million for a Connecticut River Commission that would respond to needs resulting from the river’s flooding.
“We are being responsive,” Comerford said. “Taken together, these are real answers.”
Massachusetts has nearly 7,100 farms, including about 2,000 in Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties, according to McGovern’s office. McGovern’s office said many smaller farms are ineligible for federal crop insurance or face barriers accessing existing USDA disaster programs.
McGovern’s office also noted that he helped secure $3.2 million in philanthropic disaster assistance following the 2023 storms.
