Following Push from Bennet, Gardner, Tipton, USDA Grants Disaster Designation for Western Colorado Counties Following April Freeze

Denver – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that crop losses on the Western Slope warranted a Secretarial disaster designation following a devastating freeze in April. This approval will give farmers in the affected counties access to additional USDA tools and resources. Following the freeze, Bennet, U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and U.S. Representative Scott Tipton (R-CO-3) sent a letter to USDA requesting the agency prioritize action on Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ request for a Secretarial disaster designation for the impacted Western Slope counties to help producers facing challenging financial realities following this freeze. 

“The global pandemic has made it a tough year for farmers and ranchers, wreaking havoc on our food supply. The last thing our farmers and ranchers needed was another round of severe weather that wiped out what was promising to be a great fruit crop,” said Bennet. “I thank USDA for approving this much-needed disaster designation and for their continued work to support our agricultural economy and ensure our producers have the tools they need.”