A $221 million federal block grant has been approved to support North Carolina farmers who suffered losses from Hurricane Helene in 2024. The agreement was signed by Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden at the N.C. Mountain State Fair in Fletcher.
The North Carolina Disaster Block Grant for Helene is designed to address production losses not already covered by existing USDA programs or crop insurance. Aid will be available for four types of losses: infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses, and timber losses. The grant will benefit farmers in 39 counties that received a Presidential Disaster Declaration after the hurricane.
“This $221 million federal disaster assistance block grant for agricultural damage due to Hurricane Helene is welcomed news to North Carolina farmers in Western North Carolina who have been holding on in the aftermath of massive ag losses in 2024,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are grateful for USDA’s continued efforts on this block grant and appreciate their willingness to partner with us on this much needed assistance. We all have an interest in the success of agriculture because farmers produce the food and fiber we all depend on.”
Some producers seeking funds may need to commit to obtaining and maintaining USDA Risk Management coverage for two crop years if they apply for aid related to market loss, future economic loss, plasticulture, or aquaculture.
“We are currently creating the program work plan and application in coordination with USDA. Once we have approval for the plan, we will work as quickly as possible to distribute this money to impacted farmers,” Troxler said. “As more information about the program is available, it will be posted on our website at www.ncagr.gov/agdisaster. In the meantime, I encourage those in the eligible counties to gather documentation of losses to assist in the application process.”
