USDA allocates $675.9 million in hurricane disaster aid to Florida farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $675.9 million in disaster assistance to Florida’s agricultural producers impacted by Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced on July 21 during a visit to the state.

The funding, delivered through a block grant to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), will support recovery efforts for citrus, timber, and other crop losses, as well as damaged agricultural infrastructure and market disruptions. The grant is part of the broader $30 billion disaster relief package authorized under the American Relief Act of 2025.

“America’s farmers and ranchers across the Southeast and in Florida have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during the last two hurricane seasons,” said Rollins. “USDA has worked closely with the State of Florida to ensure those impacted have the relief they need.”

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said the funding represents “a major victory” for the state’s agricultural sector, which has endured consecutive years of storm-related damages. “Food production is not just an economic issue, it’s a matter of national security,” Simpson added.

The grant agreement, developed jointly by USDA, FDACS, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration, will provide aid for qualifying losses not covered by other USDA disaster programs. Further information on eligibility and application procedures is expected to be published by FDACS.

The announcement follows the launch earlier this month of Stage 1 of USDA’s Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), which targets losses from extreme weather events in 2023 and 2024. USDA has also disbursed over $1 billion through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) and $7.8 billion under the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) to address drought, wildfire damage, increased input costs and lower commodity prices.

Disaster assistance updates and program guidelines are available through the USDA’s dedicated disaster relief portal at fsa.usda.gov.