Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program
A $531 million federal block grant administered by Georgia to provide disaster relief to Georgia farmers, ranchers, and foresters in eligible counties impacted by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Covers losses not covered by pre-existing USDA programs.
About this program
Application period closes April 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. The program won't make producers 100% whole but covers many gaps in standard USDA programs. Many former USDA FSA staff have been brought on as contractors to speed up application processing.
Eligibility
Georgia farmers, ranchers, and foresters with operations in 89+ designated eligible counties (mostly south and east-central Georgia) who suffered Hurricane Helene losses in timber, infrastructure, poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, milk loss, dairy feed loss, pecans, blueberries, citrus, nursery, plasticulture, and bare ground practices. Minimum loss thresholds apply.