Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund Accepting Applications

The Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund has announced that applications are open for farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The relief fund was established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) in partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and with support from more than 40 agricultural partners. The fund aims to raise $1.5 million by Dec. 31 to provide direct financial aid to those impacted by the storm. More than $1 millionhas already been raised, and donations will be accepted until the end of December.

Farmers must submit applications online through the Support Georgia Farmers website. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31. Applications will be reviewed in January 2025, and grants will be paid out beginning in February 2025.

Eligible farmers must hold a current valid Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption card number issued through the GDA.

All farming operations impacted by Hurricane Helene may apply, but priority will be given to these counties that were declared to be in a disaster zone: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilkes.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper cited the “incredible generosity” of those who supported the relief fund. “I strongly encourage all eligible farmers to apply and take advantage of this support so we can build back stronger than before,” he said.

Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said, “100% of every penny raised will be distributed to farmers who were devastated by Helene.”

The largest contributions to the fund have been:

• $100,000 from AgGeorgia Farm Credit
•  $100,000 from Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company
• $100,000 from Verizon
• $70,000 from Kentucky Farm Bureau
• $50,000 from AGCO Agriculture Foundation
• $50,000 from We Care by Zyn Fund
• $40,000 from CareSource
• $30,000 from Magnolia Loom
• $30,000 from Truist Foundation
• $25,000 from Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
• $25,000 from Georgia Farm Bureau Incorporated
• $25,000 from Georgia Power
• $25,000 from Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission Corporation, Georgia System Operations Corporation and Georgia EMC
• $25,000 from QT Gas

Source: Georgia Department of Agriculture

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