USDA Delivers Relief for Hurricane-Hit Florida Ag Producers

Farmers, ranchers, and growers hit hard by recent hurricanes are getting some long-awaited support. More than $675 million in federal block grant funding is on the way to help producers recover from the damage caused by Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, and Milton—which racked up more than $3 billion in losses across Florida’s ag sector.

The funding comes through a new agreement between USDA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Commissioner Wilton Simpson called it “a major victory,” thanking President Trump and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins for backing the ag community.

Relief will help cover infrastructure damage, market losses, citrus-specific impacts, and timber damage. Eligible producers in designated disaster counties will be able to apply once USDA signs off on FDACS’s work plan. More information is expected soon.

This funding is welcome news—but it’s also a reminder. If you haven’t reviewed your hurricane plan lately, now’s the time. You can’t stop a storm, but a solid plan can make all the difference when one hits.

For insight on how to put your plan together, read "Storm-Ready Starts Now": https://www.aginfo.net/report/63126/Southeast-Regional-Ag-News/Storm-Ready-Starts-Now