USDA allocates $221 million to North Carolina farmers hit by Hurricane Helene

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a $221.2 million block grant agreement with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) to assist farmers recovering from losses caused by Hurricane Helene.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Alexander Vaden announced the funding during a visit to North Carolina, where he met with agricultural leaders and producers. The program will cover eligible infrastructure and timber losses, as well as certain market and revenue losses in future years.

The assistance is part of the $30 billion American Relief Act of 2025, which authorizes USDA to work with 14 states on state-specific disaster recovery programs. Similar grants were announced earlier this year for Virginia and Florida.

“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 of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “USDA has worked closely with the State of North Carolina to ensure those impacted have the relief they need.”

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler welcomed the funding, describing it as critical for farmers in the western part of the state who continue to face the effects of widespread losses. “We all have an interest in the success of agriculture because farmers produce the food and fiber we all depend on,” Troxler said.

The USDA and NCDA&CS said the agreement addresses losses not covered by existing federal disaster programs. As the program is implemented, NCDA&CS will provide producers with further details.

The department noted that additional assistance under the American Relief Act is ongoing. In July, USDA launched the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, while more than $1 billion has already been distributed through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program and $8 billion through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program.