North Wake News

On the six-month mark since Hurricane Helene struck, Governor Josh Stein and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler have urged the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a block grant to aid farmers in Western North Carolina. The request was made to US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in a letter.

Governor Stein emphasized the importance of agriculture to the region's economy and the resilience shown by local farmers. He stated, “Agriculture plays a crucial role in the region’s economy, and the farmers of western North Carolina have always demonstrated resilience. However, Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact has left them in a difficult position, with staggering losses they will not recoup without external assistance.”

Commissioner Troxler highlighted the severity of the damage, saying, “The damage to farms from Hurricane Helene is almost unimaginable, and it is going to take a lot to put them back together. We will need funds to help with that recovery. We hope USDA will come through with block grant funding to do the things we know are going to be needed.”

The requested block grant would utilize funds allocated in the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025. Discussions on the allocation of these funds have commenced, and officials stress that a timely release is crucial for farmers to return to sustainable production levels.

Governor Stein recently enacted the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part 1, securing $200 million for farmers in North Carolina who suffered crop losses and infrastructure damage from the hurricane. Stein remains committed to obtaining further assistance for infrastructure repairs and debris removal for farmers.