SCOTT TOWNSHIP, PA — On May 26, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for a roundtable discussion with local farmers, community leaders, and agricultural stakeholders impacted by April’s devastating freeze. Following the roundtable, Bresnahan and Rollins held a press conference where Rollins signed a secretarial disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a response to a catastrophic freeze that struck Pennsylvania on April 20-21, 2026. 

“Our farmers cannot control the weather, but Washington can make sure they are not left to shoulder these losses alone,” said Bresnahan. “The April freeze devastated orchards and specialty crop producers across Pennsylvania, and this declaration will help get critical relief to the growers who keep our communities fed and our agricultural economy strong. I’m grateful to Secretary Rollins for working with us to deliver support for Pennsylvania farmers.” 

“Fighting for our farmers means being there for them when Mother Nature hits, today we are showing that USDA stands with Pennsylvania agriculture — and we will continue working to ensure producers have the support they need to recover and move forward,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This designation is a first step forward to help agricultural producers access emergency loans and programs in the aftermath of freezing temperatures. Under President Trump, USDA will continue to put farmers first and make sure they have the resources they need.”  

The secretarial disaster declaration will make affected farms eligible for low-interest emergency loans and additional USDA disaster relief resources needed to manage ongoing operational costs and mitigate losses.

Last week, Rep. Bresnahan joined bipartisan members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation in calling on USDA to approve a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for all counties in the Commonwealth. You can read the full letter here.