HURRICANE HELENE BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS OPEN MARCH 16

HURRICANE HELENE BLOCK GRANT

Applications Open March 16, 2026

Georgia farmers, ranchers, and foresters impacted by Hurricane Helene will be able to apply for financial relief beginning March 16, 2026, through the Georgia Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program.

In September 2025, Georgia was awarded $531,236,000 in funding to provide relief for agricultural commodities and losses not covered under existing USDA programs. The application period will remain open for six weeks and will close at midnight on April 27, 2026.

Who Is Eligible?

Producers in eligible counties who suffered qualifying losses in the following areas may apply:

Timber
Infrastructure and on-farm structures
Poultry (lost production cycles)
Beef cattle (conception losses)
Dairy cattle (conception losses)
Milk production and dairy feed losses
Pecans, blueberries, and citrus
Nursery crops
Plasticulture and bare-ground practices
Minimum loss thresholds apply.

How Payments Are Determined

Timber: Based on pre-hurricane values of damaged stands
Infrastructure: Physical structures necessary for agricultural production
Poultry: Lost production cycles
Beef & Dairy Cattle: Drops in conception rates
Milk: Reduced production
Pecans, Blueberries, Citrus & Nursery: Future production losses due to destroyed trees, bushes, or crops
Plasticulture & Bare-Ground: Reestablishment of damaged practices

Where to Apply

Applications, eligibility requirements, FAQs, and commodity-specific guidance documents are available at:

Farm Recovery Website

Producers are encouraged to begin gathering documentation now to ensure timely submission before the April 27 deadline.

CARDEN & ASSOCIATES, INC.

For all your crop insurance needs

info@cardeninsurance.com | 888.296.7533 | www.cardeninsurance.com