(The Center Square) – Georgia received $531.2 million in federal aid for Hurricane Helene relief a year after the storm swept through the state, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said Tuesday.
The federal funds will go into a block grant program to cover damages incurred on Georgia’s farmland and ranches, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“Farmers and ranchers in Georgia have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024,” Rollins said in a release. “USDA is working closely with the State of Georgia to ensure those impacted have the relief they need.”
Gov. Brian Kemp called the grant good news for the state.
“Commissioner Harper and his @GADeptAg team worked hard on this deal to bring home the maximum possible amount of federal relief,” Kemp said on social media. “This will cover as many Georgia farmers as possible, and I’m thankful for their tireless efforts as we continue to support hard-hit communities still recovering from Helene.”
The agriculture commissioner’s office will release more details about how to apply later, according to the release.
“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,” Harper said.
The University of Georgia Extension Office estimated the hurricane caused $5.5 billion in agricultural and timber losses. Georgia’s cotton farmers lost about 32.6% of their crops, a $1.31 billion impact. The hurricane caused $1.3 billion in damage to the state’s vegetable crops, the agency said in its report.
