Morris County is one of 17 New Jersey counties listed as a primary disaster county after the April freeze, giving affected farmers until Feb. 8, 2027, to apply for emergency loan assistance through the Farm Service Agency.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – Morris County farmers affected by the April freeze are now eligible to be considered for federal emergency loan assistance after the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a Secretarial natural disaster designation for New Jersey.
The USDA Farm Service Agency listed Morris County as one of 17 primary New Jersey counties eligible under the designation, which covers losses tied to a freeze from April 19 through April 22, 2026. Four additional New Jersey counties are covered as contiguous counties, bringing the designation’s coverage to all 21 counties in the state.
The designation allows the Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credit to eligible producers recovering from natural disasters. According to USDA, emergency loans may be used for recovery needs such as replacing essential items, reorganizing a farming operation, or refinancing certain debts.
FSA said it will review loan applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture said the disaster declaration was approved by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on June 8, 2026. Farm operators in primary and contiguous counties may be considered for FSA emergency loans and disaster set-aside assistance if they meet eligibility requirements.
Farmers in covered counties have until Feb. 8, 2027, to apply for emergency loan assistance.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the federal designation on June 11, saying the state had secured the designation for all 21 counties after an April cold snap caused crop losses across New Jersey. The Governor’s Office said the USDA designation declares New Jersey a natural disaster area and enables farmers affected by the freeze to access emergency credit through USDA programs.
“Federal relief is now within reach for New Jersey farmers,” Sherrill said in the announcement.
The designation may be relevant for Morris County growers, farm markets, and agricultural businesses that experienced freeze-related crop damage during the April weather event. Farmers seeking assistance should contact their local USDA Service Center or Farm Service Agency office for eligibility and application details.
USDA also directs producers to its disaster assistance tools and local service centers for help reviewing program and loan options, filing a notice of loss, and asking questions about available assistance.