Deadline Extended For USDA Block Grants For Ag and Timber Loss Related To Helene
This week, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture announced that The application period for farmers and timber owners to apply for the $221 million USDA block grant for certain Hurricane Helene ag and timber losses will be extended to June 12 for all four loss categories. The previous deadline for three of the four categories was May 15. To learn more about applying, eligible farmers and landowners will find information and instructions at www.ncagr.gov/agdisaster.
“We have already received over 1,000 applications but want to be sure everyone who has eligible losses applies, so we are giving farmers more time to get their applications and information submitted,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The farmer deadline and the timber owner deadline will both now be June 12.”
The block grant, which covers the 39 presidential or secretarial declared counties for Hurricane Helene damage, focuses on farm infrastructure, future economic loss for perennial crops, poultry and aquaculture operations, market loss for commodities and select value-added products, and timber losses.
Specifically, the categories are:
Farm Infrastructure – provides cost-share assistance for farm structure repair or replacement and farm road or bridge repair and replacement
Future Economic Loss– provides cost-share assistance for economic loss for perennial crops, poultry and aquaculture operations. All approved specialty crops will need to be replanted in 2025 or 2026.
Market Loss Assistance for Commodities and Value-Added Products – cost-share assistance for harvested or unharvested commodities or select value-added products in which value was reduced or destroyed by power outage.
Timber Loss Relief Program – private landowners with at least 10 contiguous acres of moderate to catastrophic timber loss are eligible.
An application is required for each category in each county that a farmer or landowner qualifies for. The disaster assistance will only cover losses associated with Hurricane Helene that were not covered under any other USDA programs. In addition, as part of the program, certain producers may have to agree to acquire and maintain USDA Risk Management coverage for two years.
“This is a separate program from the state program, so farmers and landowners will need to apply again in the categories they qualify for. Because the information needed is similar to requirements for the state program, the process should be more streamlined and easier for producers,” Troxler said.
For timber losses, interested woodland owners can learn more about the program on the N.C. Forest Service TLRP webpage (https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/managing-your-forest/tlrp).
