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Schumer Calls For Federal Action On Drought Relief

Julia Botero
/
WRVO News

New York Senator Charles Schumer is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin the process of issuing a disaster declaration to help Upstate New York farmers who suffer major losses and crop damage from the severe drought.

Schumer is calling on the USDA to stand ready to make the declaration so that low-interest emergency loans can be made to farmers.  He says that farmers across many counties, including in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions, have already detected evidence of severe drought conditions.

Earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to issue a heightened drought warning for most of Western New York.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.