ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 29, 2026) ~ Annapolis, MD - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for 43 primary natural disaster area counties and an additional 61 contiguous counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia on June 26, 2026. This declaration also includes five Maryland counties - Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's and Washington - as they share borders with the designated Virginia counties.

The declaration for Maryland was issued on June 15 after Governor Wes Moore submitted a formal request for support on May 27. Under this declaration, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Washington and Wicomico are listed as primary counties while Allegany, Anne Arundel, Harford, Kent, Prince George's Talbot and Worcester are listed as contiguous. The addition of Charles County to the list is a result of the Virginia disaster declaration.

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These Secretarial Disaster Declarations were prompted by an early morning freeze on April 21st that occurred after weeks of unseasonably warm weather. This freeze caused significant damage to perennial crops that were coming out of winter dormancy. Extensive damage assessments conducted in coordination with the Maryland Farm Bureau confirmed that crop losses exceeded the required threshold of 30% for a federal declaration.

In addition to the freeze, Maryland has also been facing prolonged drought conditions throughout much of 2026. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor published on June 25th, most counties in Maryland remain under D2 (Severe Drought) and D3 (Extreme Drought) conditions.

The Secretarial Disaster Declaration provides access to low-interest emergency loans and credit extensions for eligible producers to cover production costs and protect jobs. It also allows for refinancing of certain debts. Farmers and growers who have been impacted by these disasters are encouraged to contact their local FSA office to review eligible disaster assistance programs and begin the application process.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture's website.

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