04/22/2026
Federal Block Grant Disaster Assistance for Hurricane Helene Agricultural Losses
The application period is currently open for three of the four categories that agriculture and forestry producers can apply for as part of the $221 million in USDA block grant disaster assistance for specific Hurricane Helene losses. The block grant has four program categories, with an application required for EACH category in each county that a farmer or landowner qualifies for.
The categories are:
• Farm Infrastructure – provides cost-share assistance for farm structure repair or replacement and farm road or bridge repair and replacement
• Future Economic Loss– provides cost-share assistance for economic loss for perennial crops, poultry and aquaculture operations. All approved specialty crops will need to be replanted in 2025 or 2026.
• Market Loss Assistance for Commodities and Value-Added Products – cost-share assistance for harvested or unharvested commodities or select value-added products in which value was reduced or destroyed by power outage.
• Timber Loss Relief Program – private timber landowners with at least 10 acres of timber loss are eligible. (The application period is not open yet for this portion of the program.
The block grant covers eligible producers in counties declared a disaster by the President or designated as a disaster by the Secretary of Agriculture due to Hurricane Helene. Disaster assistance will only cover losses associated with Hurricane Helene that were not covered under any other USDA programs. In addition, as part of the program, certain producers may have to agree to acquire and maintain USDA Risk Management coverage for two years.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is administering the Hurricane Helene-specific block grant that USDA announced in September 2025. Since that time, NCDA&CS has been working with USDA on a distribution plan and timeline that was approved mid-March by federal officials.
Eligible farmers can access and submit applications at www.ncagr.gov/agdisaster.
PLEASE NOTE:
• The Timber Loss Relief Program will be administered by the department’s N.C. Forest Service. Details on this program’s requirements, signup period, deadline, etc. is expected to be announced in late April. Information will be posted on the NCDA&CS home page, the N.C. Forest Service website and through local County Ranger offices. The Buncombe County Ranger Office can be reached at 828-686-5885.
• Applicants who applied for last year's NC Crop Loss Program MUST ALSO submit an application through this program to be eligible for funding from the USDA block grant.
• Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Agents are available to assist with completing applications. Please contact (828) 255-5522 to set up an appointment.
NCDA&CS is also operating its disaster assistance hotline at 1-866-747-9823 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help with questions.
For more information, including a section with frequently asked questions, visit www.ncagr.gov/agdisaster, or call the NCDA&CS disaster assistance hotline at 866-747-9823 or email at [email protected] at any time.
This page is intended to provide information for disaster programs administered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.USDA Disaster Block Grant Relief Program This Block Grant is for production losses not covered by USDA programs or crop insurance. The program will cover four ...
