Georgia farmers, ranchers, and foresters affected by Hurricane Helene will be able to apply for financial assistance starting March 16, 2026. The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced that the Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program is open to those in eligible counties who experienced losses in timber, infrastructure, poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, milk loss, dairy feed loss, pecans, blueberries, citrus, nursery crops, plasticulture and bare ground practices.
In September 2025, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper stated that the state would receive $531 million to help cover losses not addressed by existing USDA programs. Applications for the program will be accepted until midnight on April 27, 2026. Details about eligibility and how to apply are available at www.farmrecovery.com.
“I’m incredibly proud to announce that Georgia farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for relief beginning on March 16, 2026,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “While this relief will not make impacted producers 100% whole, it will go a long way to help farm families get back on their feet after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. We invested thousands of hours into this process to ensure we brought the maximum amount of funding to Georgia while covering as many commodities and loss types as possible, and I want to thank the Trump Administration and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins for understanding the critical need for financial relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.”
The grant program covers more commodities and types of losses than similar programs in other states. Timber payments are based on pre-hurricane values; infrastructure aid addresses damaged farm structures; poultry compensation is tied to lost production cycles; beef and dairy support covers reduced conception rates; milk payments reflect lower production; fruit crop aid compensates for future production losses due to destroyed bushes or trees; nursery assistance supports recovery from crop destruction; and funds are available for reestablishing plasticulture and bare-ground practices. Minimum loss requirements must be met.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture operates statewide supporting agricultural activities throughout Georgia (official website). The department fosters agritourism opportunities across the state and partners with producers through initiatives like the Georgia Grown program (official website). It also aims to protect agriculture while promoting consumer interests and ensuring safe food supplies (official website).
Commissioner Tyler Harper leads these efforts as head of the department (official website). Since its establishment in 1874, the agency has worked to promote agriculture and regulate food safety statewide (official website).
Information sheets addressing specific commodities—such as blueberry bushes or poultry houses—as well as frequently asked questions are available through provided resources.
