World’s worst wine disasters
5th August, 2014
by
Lauren Eads
Finger Lakes frost 2014
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared an “agricultural disaster” in 19 upstate New York counties earlier this year after a “long and bitter” winter caused by an unprecedented polar vortex which swept across the US east coast, leaving the region’s vines in tatters.
Some vineyards reported bud loss of 50% or more due to the severe cold weather caused by a polar vortex which slammed into the east coast of America early this year breaking US temperature records with some places experiencing temperatures 40 degrees Fahrenheit colder than average. According to a report by The New York Post, farmers in the Finger Lakes are expecting to have lost between 75 and 90% of their crops due to “bud injury”.
An agricultural disaster was declared the USDA to allow winemakers and vineyards to apply for aid from an emergency loan scheme to rebuild their battered crops.
The disaster area covers the counties of Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Oswego, Yates, Allegany, Cortland, Erie, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins, Wayne and Wyoming counties – all of which will be eligible to claim support.