Create a free Feed & Grain account to continue reading

USDA announces $233 million in hurricane relief for farmers

States like Georgia, Alabama, and Florida will receive critical financial aid to help stabilize rural communities and support recovery efforts.

Usda Logo

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for farmers affected by Hurricane Helene, providing critical financial relief through the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) program. Over $233 million in indemnities will be distributed to help farmers in states across the Southeast recover from hurricane-related damages.

Under the HIP-WI and Tropical Storm (TS) options, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are set to receive payments, with Georgia leading the list at $207.7 million. This is part of USDA's ongoing support for disaster-impacted farmers, with $630 million already issued for hurricanes in 2024. The payments aim to alleviate losses from the storm, which caused severe damage just before the fall harvest.

"Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation, and we're committed to helping farmers recover and rebuild," said Secretary Vilsack. "These funds will help stabilize rural communities and support producers as they restore their operations."

Emergency procedures were also put in place to streamline the claims process and accelerate payments. This includes reducing paperwork and facilitating quicker claims adjustments in affected areas. The USDA's Risk Management Agency is working with crop insurance providers to ensure farmers receive their indemnities in a timely manner.

The USDA continues to offer resources and assistance to farmers, with 215 responders deployed across impacted states to help with recovery efforts.

Page 1 of 381
Next Page