Some relief could be on the way for Central New York farmers.
A new farm bill has cleared its first hurdle in the U.S. Senate.
Central New York dairy farms became covered by the farm bill a few years ago and this version would include local fruit farmers as well.
It would help apple orchards and grape vineyards get crop insurance.
This year many farms saw their apples and grapes damaged by cold weather after the early budding season.
While it won't help this go-around, the new farm bill could help them from similar events in the future.
Senator Schumer says, "This year we were able to get disaster assistance, which does give people loans when they're in trouble. Crop insurance is much better, because that's insurance and they pay you the cost of your loss just as they pay you the cost of your loss if you have fire insurance and God forbid your house caught on fire."
Disaster were declared by the United States Department of Agriculture to help fruit farms this year allowing businesses throughout central new york apply for aide if crops were lost in the cold weather.
