Utah Governor declares emergency as April freeze devastates early crops

Spencer Cox signed a state of emergency on Friday covering ten Utah counties impacted by a late-season freeze in early and mid-April, which destroyed crops that had begun to bloom after an unusually warm March. The order grants farmers access to disaster relief programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. State officials highlighted that the freeze followed a record-low snowpack and near-record high temperatures during the first half of the water year, prompting early planting of fruit trees.

Reported losses range from 95% to 100% for several stone and pome fruits, with wheat and alfalfa producers also reporting setbacks. Kent Pyne of Pyne Farms said the weather wiped out the entire harvest for his operation. The emergency declaration remains in effect for 30 days unless the Utah Legislature decides to extend it, and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food praised the swift action to help producers survive the crisis.