Following the announcement of a $531 million block grant to support Georgia farmers and timberland owners affected by Hurricane Helene, the focus now shifts to implementation. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper shared the path forward and what producers can expect next in the disaster recovery process.
“USDA, you know, has been rolling out funds that they’re able to through their traditional programs that already exist. In addition to the investment that the state of Georgia has made over $300 million, you know, we’ve seen an investment of almost $800 million just in those programs. So almost a billion dollars already has been going out the door to producers and farmers.”
While traditional USDA programs have helped many, gaps remain for others affected by natural disasters. Harper emphasized the significance of this new funding initiative.
“And while that was happening, we were working with USDA to get to the final agreement on the program that we’re creating, which is creating programs from scratch. These are programs that don’t exist to cover gap areas that USDA does not cover when it comes to natural disasters.”
“And so this $531 million announcement is huge because it’s going to allow us to help our farm families and timberland owners get back on their feet as quickly as possible. But our team has put a lot of effort into this.”
With the funding now approved, Harper says the real work begins.
“And this is the first step. So now we’ve got to finalize those work plans and agreements with USDA that will allow us to open up the application process. And we’ve been doing a lot of that in the background.”
To speed up the rollout, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has brought in seasoned professionals.
“I’ve hired on some retired and former USDA FSA employees that have significant experience with USDA and FSA disaster programs. And they’re helping us build all of that out, working with the USDA staff and my staff and others to ensure that once we’re able to meet that agreement that we can roll out application process and get the dollars to where they belong.”
As Georgia moves toward agricultural recovery, this funding promises vital relief for producers still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.