Hurricane Helene Recovery Assistance Coming to Georgia Agriculture
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Farmers and ranchers working to recover from last year’s Hurricane Helene disaster will hopefully soon receive financial relief, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to provide $531 million of Congressionally mandated recovery assistance to Georgia agricultural producers.
On September 30, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that this block grant would be given to Georgia producers through the Georgia Department of Agriculture to help them recover from the destruction that occurred from the hurricane. This funding comes as a part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief funding that was authorized through the 2025 American Relief Act. Rollins commented on the decision. “Farmers and ranchers in Georgia have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024. Our team has worked closely with the State of Georgia to ensure those impacted have the relief they need in record time,” she emphasized. “President Trump has our farmers' backs and will ensure they have the resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most abundant food supply in the world.”
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper also spoke on the funding. “I am incredibly proud to announce the State of Georgia will receive $531,000,000 in federal funding to provide much-needed relief to impacted farmers and producers through Georgia’s Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program,” he remarked. “This funding is absolutely essential to help our farm families bounce back from Hurricane Helene, and our team invested hundreds of hours into the negotiation process to secure the maximum possible amount of federal funding for our state and our producers. I want to thank Sec. Brooke Rollins and her team at USDA FSA for understanding the urgency of the situation and their strong partnership and collaboration throughout this process, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration to deliver real results for Georgia farmers.”
The United States Department of Agriculture, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s Office, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture are finalizing a grant agreement that will determine where the funding will be distributed. Currently, the group plans to use the funding to cover future economic losses, infrastructure, and timber losses. Once the agreement is finalized, additional program information will be released by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
