Harvest season begins in Massachusetts as growers build resilience

BOSTON - As the 2024 harvest season kicks off, the Healey-Driscoll administration and Massachusetts farmers are recognizing one year since the historic freeze, frost and flooding, and celebrating the state’s successful actions that resulted in not a single farm being lost. 

In 2023, a deep freeze in February spoiled the year’s peach crop and a late frost in May damaged most of the state’s tree fruit crops. On July 10, 2023, heavy rainfall resulted in significant flooding across Massachusetts. By the end of the summer, 13,000 acres of Massachusetts crops had been destroyed or severely damaged, with farmers reporting more than $65 million in losses. In response to the flooding, the administration launched the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund, in partnership with the United Way, and the Natural Disaster Recovery Program for Agriculture, with support from the Legislature. The two funds distributed $23 million in total, resulting in retention of all impacted farms.  

Following more favorable weather in 2024, Massachusetts harvest season has begun, with asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, corn, greens, and vegetables the first crops to be distributed to farm stands, farmers’ markets, and stores. 

“In the face of unprecedented natural disasters, our farmers remained resilient,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We were proud to deliver relief at such a dire time, and today we are so glad to celebrate the start of a successful harvest. I’m grateful to our partners in the Legislature and the United Way for joining forces to support our agricultural community.” 

“Many of the impacted farms had been family owned for over a century and represented an important facet of the culture of our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Massachusetts is lucky to be home to a thriving agricultural community that is critical to the food security of our residents. We will continue to look for ways to support and grow this industry.” 

“Our farmers are on the frontlines of climate change – every change in weather can mean significant losses for small farmers that already struggle to get by,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Our farmers are also developing important solutions and adaptations to challenging weather. We can learn a great deal from their resilience and creativity.” 

“Climate disruption is here, and it’s hitting our communities hard,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “Our farmers feel the impacts of extreme weather acutely. Our response kept them afloat, but it’s critical that we stay prepared, which is why we proposed a permanent disaster relief fund. We are committed to working with our farmers to ensure we preserve the rich tradition of Massachusetts agriculture for generations to come.” 

Originally proposed by the State Senate, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) quickly launched the Natural Disaster Recovery (NDR) program with $20 million to support farmers who had suffered losses. By December, MDAR disbursed the funds through payments of as much as $350,000 each to 347 farmers throughout the state. 

A recent survey of program awardees conducted by MDAR found that, for many, the funding they received made the difference that kept their operation in business. Survey responses found that farmers used the program’s resources in a variety of ways to cover the loss of income due to crop damage, including: 

- Animal feed to make up for lost hay and corn harvest
- Cover crops, fertilizer, and other inputs to restore soil health of damaged cropland
- Equipment such as aerators and seed drills, which will allow for greater resilience in future storms
- Replacement of ruined perennial stock, such as apple trees
- Costs of insurance, taxes, labor, and other operational expenses
- Debt payments

“Farmers and their customers are celebrating favorable weather so far this year,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle, “But the effects of last year’s natural disasters are still being felt. Some land is still unusable, and farmers continue to struggle financially from their losses. The NDR program went a long way to helping farms survive, and the department remains committed to helping farmers become more resilient so that they can weather any storm.” 

MDAR has many programs and initiatives that help farmers build resilience and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help avoid the worst impacts of climate change. These efforts include: 

Farmland Protection and Preservation - A suite of programs that protect farmland, make land accessible to farmers, and assist them in stewarding it responsibly using management practices that protect natural resources and enhance long-term economic viability while also advancing Massachusetts’ Clean Energy and Climate Plan commitment to protect 30% of lands by 2030 and aligning with the state’s ResilientMass Plan’s actions related to increasing food security and agricultural production with climate-resilient best practices. 

Education and Technical Assistance - Provides farmers with skills and resources they need to remain sustainable, with business training, support for energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, protecting and enhancing soil health to reduce emissions and increase carbon storage, assistance with food safety practices, and grants for infrastructure. 

Market Access and Development - Helps farmers sell their products from their own farmstands, at farmers markets, and to wholesale markets ranging from local schools and hospitals to large grocery chains and international export. 

Climate Resilience – MDAR is implementing th e Commonwealth’s ResilientMass Plan through the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program, that provides grants to farmers to adopt soil management and other practices that build resilience to climate impacts such as droughts and floods.  

In the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the administration proposed a new Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund to better set up Massachusetts to be able to respond quickly to natural disasters, such as the flooding experienced over the past year. This fund would be capitalized with 10 percent of annual excess capital gains, in addition to public and/or private sources, federal grants, settlements, repayments, or reimbursements available for the purpose of delivering aid. 

"Because our farms throughout the state play such an important role in our communities and our economy, it's our responsibility as state leaders to come together and protect them when tragedy strikes,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “I'm so proud the Senate was able to initiate and deliver historic funding for our farms so that none of them were lost to last summer's severe weather and flooding." 

“Massachusetts farmers play a vital role in our economy, and we’re proud to support them,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano. “In addition to providing funding to help them recover from last year’s weather events, the House is proud to have included the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund in our FY25 Budget to better support our farmers through the next fiscal year.” 

“I am thrilled that we have marked one year in sustaining and retaining our agricultural industry, devastated by the historic floods of 2023. The Legislature, in partnership with the Healey-Driscoll administration, swiftly responded to this challenge and kept farmers of the Commonwealth in business. The benefit of this critical relief action is now evident, as all signs point to a strong and healthy harvest for 2024,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, (D-Westport) Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. 

"One year ago, I joined Governor Maura Healey, MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle, and many others from the Healey-Driscoll Administration to tour farm fields and listen to farmers devastated by flooding in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district," said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). "I am grateful for the quick and decisive response from the Administration and the Legislature to help Commonwealth's farmers recover and rebuild. We must all continue to take concrete steps to support the resiliency and strength of Massachusetts farmers." 

"Governor Healey and the Massachusetts legislature are united in their commitment to supporting farmers as we rebuild our food production capacity,” said Representative Paul Schmid (D-Westport). “We only grow 5% of what we eat and it is irresponsible to continue this way as droughts and heat overtake our Midwestern breadbaskets." 

“The prompt disbursement of this critical state funding has meant the difference between farmers staying in business or having to close their doors,” said State Representative Natalie M. Blais (D-Deerfield). “I remain deeply grateful for the show of support from the Healey-Driscoll Administration, legislative colleagues, businesses, individuals and so many others following the devastating impacts of last year’s storms on farms across the Commonwealth.” 

“The Governor called and the community answered. Our United Way rapidly organized and responded to the Governor’s request; we created the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund – in partnership with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA),” said Tim Garvin, President and CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts. “Together, within days we had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. On September First we distributed close to two million dollars to 214 farms; in mid-October we distributed a second round of funding to support our farms, our farmers, the economy of central and western Massachusetts and the food production of our Commonwealth. It was the best summer work that I have ever been involved in.” 

“I would like to thank everyone in Governor Healey's administration who helped get the farming community through the worst growing season many of us have ever experienced,” responded farmer Dave Harper of Harper’s Farm and Garden in Lancaster to the survey. “The funds helped get our farm through to this year and without it I do not think our 121-year-old family farm would have continued in its current form.” 

“Receiving the funds were extremely helpful so we didn't have to lay off any employees throughout the winter and were able to pay our monthly bills and keep our apple orchard running smoothly,” wrote Martha Nydam of Brookfield Orchards in North Brookfield. “We were able to purchase a variety of 375 apple trees to replace the older ones. We are making sure the funds are spent wisely so that we can make it to the next apple season which begins in August. The family at Brookfield Orchards appreciated the help from the Natural Disaster Recovery Program.”

“Barstow's Longview Farm used the funding we received?from the NDR program to purchase hay and corn for our dairy herd,” said Denise Barstow-Manz of Barstow’s Longview Farm in Hadley. “We lost about 80 acres of corn and two cuttings of corn to the flooding and rain in the summer of 2023. We were so grateful for the support from the state which allowed us to feed our herd and continue making high-quality milk for our community. Thank you!”