USDA grants $221.2 million in disaster relief to North Carolina farmers

US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Alexander Vaden was in North Carolina to announce an additional $221.2 million USDA grant to help producers recover from Hurricane Helene.

The government representative signed a block grant agreement with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, providing recovery assistance to eligible farmers in the state. This grant adds to previous relief efforts by the US Department of Agriculture aimed at assisting farmers and producers in Virginia and Florida.  

In this agreement, NCDA&CS will receive $221.2 million in funding to administer a program that will cover eligible infrastructure and timber losses, as well as eligible market losses and future year revenue losses.

This funding is part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025. USDA is working with 14 different states, including North Carolina, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs of each state. 

“America’s farmers and ranchers across the Southeast and in North Carolina have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024," said Secretary Brooke Rollins. "The USDA has worked closely with the State of North Carolina to ensure those impacted have the relief they need.”

“This $221.2 million federal disaster assistance block grant for agricultural damage due to Hurricane Helene is welcome news to farmers in western North Carolina who have been holding on in the aftermath of massive ag losses in 2024," said North Carolina 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."

Additional USDA supplemental disaster assistance 

To date, more than $1 billion in Emergency Livestock Relief Program assistance has been delivered to livestock producers impacted by drought and wildfire in 2023 and 2024.

The USDA has also provided over $8 billion in direct payments through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program to help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.

Related stories

USDA opens $16B disaster aid for 2023-24 crop losses

USDA unveils National Farm Security Action Plan

USDA buys $60 million worth of apples and cranberries from U.S. producers