Gov. Abigail Spanberger secured a Secretarial Disaster Declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, providing federal assistance to Virginia vineyards affected by spring frost and freeze damage. The declaration covers more than 100 localities, according to the Governor's office.
Following unusually warm weather in early spring that promoted crop growth, widespread freezing temperatures in March and April damaged vineyards across the state, with some growers anticipating a 100 percent loss.
Spanberger submitted a formal request to the USDA in May seeking federal assistance for the crop damage. The disaster declaration is intended to help family farmers begin recovery from the spring weather events.
Virginia's wine industry generates more than $1.7 billion in annual economic impact, supporting more than 300 wineries across ten distinct wine regions.