USDA Block Grant Program
In September, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden signed a $221 million federal block grant agreement today that targets aid to North Carolina farmers who sustained losses and damages from Hurricane Helene in 2024. This Block Grant is for production losses not covered by USDA programs or crop insurance. The program will cover four categories of eligible losses: infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses and timber losses. It applies to the 39 counties that received a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Helene. Applications will open March 30.
Contact the NCDA&CS Ag Disaster Program Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 866-747-9823 or email at agdisaster@ncagr.gov at any time.
Press Release: $221 million federal disaster block grant application period opens March 30 to assist agriculture and forestry producers
USDA Block Grant Applications
Forestry Loss (TLRP) – This application period will open mid to late April. Applicants interested in this program will need to contact their local county Forestry Office. The County Ranger staff will be assisting with the application process.
USDA Block Grant Disaster Relief FAQs
The payments are part of a total of $221 million in block grant funding authorized by The Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division B of the American Relief Act, 2025, P.L. 118-158) for qualifying losses due to Hurricane Helene.
Producers in a NC county declared as a disaster by the President or designated a disaster by the Secretary under the Stafford Act in the 2024 calendar year due to Hurricane Helene or any contiguous county to such declared or designated disaster county.
Necessary expenses related to Timber Loss, Infrastructure Loss, Loss for Commodities and Value-Added Products, and Future Economic Loss. Only losses in these categories not covered by any other USDA program are eligible.
Yes. This program utilizes federal funding and requires a separate application process. Through a block grant agreement with USDA, NCDA&CS is authorized to administer the funding to eligible producers for certain Hurricane Helene losses not covered by other USDA programs.
Specific applications are linked on this website for the following categories:
- Infrastructure Loss
- Market Loss for Commodities and Value-Added Products, and
- Future Economic Loss
The Timber Loss Relief Program will be administered by the North Carolina Forest Service. Details on the program requirements and applications will be on the NC Forest Service Website and through local County Ranger offices.
The Timber Loss Relief Program has a different application window than the other 3 categories.
The application period for the Infrastructure Loss, Market Loss for Commodities and Value-Add Products, and Future Economic Loss Categories will be March 30, 2026 – May 15, 2026.
The Timber Loss Category will have a slightly different timeline. Please check the NC Forest Service website for more information.
Yes, you must submit a separate application for each category and county a producer or landowner qualifies for.
Payments will not go out until after the application period closes and calculations are completed. NCDA&CS anticipates that the payments will go out in batches.
Per USDA guidelines, as a condition of receiving payments, an Eligible Producer must agree to certain related to obtaining crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for certain future crop years. This applies to future economic loss and market loss for commodities and value-added products categories only.
For more information on crop insurance visit USDA Risk Management Agency at https://www.rma.usda.gov/about-crop-insurance . To find a local RMA agent, visit https://www.rma.usda.gov/tools-reports/agent-locator . For Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance-related-information
Please send any questions via email to agdisaster@ncagr.gov at any time or call the Disaster Assistance Hotline 1-866-747-9823 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Staff in your county will be available to assist producers with the application process.
This number is available on the e-mail you received at the time of application for the state program. You may also find the reference number on the check stub from any prior payments of which you received payment. You may also send an email to agdisaster@ncagr.gov at any time or call the Disaster Assistance Hotline 1-866-747-9823 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Everyone who received a payment will also receive a 1099 for the tax year in which the payment was issued.
A printable version on the FAQs is available at Ag Disaster USDA Block Grant FAQs.