MACON, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Agriculture will begin accepting online applications for $347 million in block grant funds on March 18.
The grant program is for farmers and forest landowners with operations in 95 eligible Georgia counties, who suffered losses to beef, dairy, fruit and vegetable, pecan, poultry, timber, and eligible uninsured irrigation equipment or farm structures as a result of Hurricane Michael. The federal block grants seek to help recover losses not covered under existing USDA Farm Service Agency programs.
Only online applications will be accepted. While mobile phones may be used to sign up and log in, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application using a computer to ensure proper upload and attachment of required documents.
All applications must be completed and submitted by April 8, 2020.
For more information about the Farm Recovery Block Grant, please contact GDA at farmrecovery@agr.georgia.gov.
To help growers prepare for the grant application, the GDA has published a guide offering tips on how to apply and a map indicating eligible counties. Access the guide at www.farmrecovery.com.
Georgia agriculture suffered a $2.5 billion loss from Hurricane Michael. Under the $3 billion Disaster Relief Act of 2019, USDA earmarked $800 million in block grant funds to aid states impacted by disasters. USDA allocated $347 million for Georgia.
–Georgia Farm Bureau