As first reported by Agri-Pulse, the bipartisan pair urged key Senate leaders to approve an agriculture supplemental disaster package that meets the needs of farmers and ranchers in Georgia and Florida after another costly hurricane season

The Senators also recommend Congress structure some funding as block grants to ensure federal aid quickly gets to forestry and specialty crop farmers

Last week, led by Senator Reverend Warnock, nearly the entirety of Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation called on key Congressional leaders to approve billions in federal support to help Georgia farmers recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene and other storms

Latest effort follows Senator Reverend Warnock’s floor remarks calling for immediate approval of the White House’s disaster funding request after kickstarting the federal response to Helene’s devastation

Senator Reverend Warnock has hosted community resource clinics across the state, helping connect 200 Georgians in rural communities to in-person federal resources and representatives

ICYMI in Agri-Pulse: “Georgia, Florida lawmakers press leadership for disaster aid”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a key member of the Senate Agriculture committee, and Rick Scott (R-FL) urged Congressional leaders to approve an agriculture supplemental disaster package that meets the needs of farmers and ranchers in Georgia and Florida after two years of devastating natural disasters. As first reported by Agri-Pulse, this latest effort to help Georgians recovering from Hurricane Helene follows a bipartisan, bicameral effort led by Senator Reverend Warnock and nearly the entirety of Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation calling on Congressional leaders to approve billions in federal support to help Georgia families and farmers recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene and other storms, including $7.15 billion in assistance for Georgia’s farmers and ranchers.

“…Both of our states have been heavily impacted by natural disasters over the last two years, leaving farmers and ranchers with decimated crops and wrangled infrastructure. Most recently, Georgia’s cotton, pecan, and timber crops were flattened by Hurricane Helene, and Florida’s citrus and vegetable crops were devasted after Hurricane Milton,” the lawmakers wrote. 

Georgia’s agriculture and forestry industries were left reeling in Helene’s wake, with approximately one-third of the state’s pecan and cotton crops destroyed, over 100 poultry houses damaged or destroyed, and 1.5 million acres of timber damaged or destroyed. All told, Georgia’s agricultural economy faces an unprecedented estimated $7.15 billion in total damages. Most tragically, 225 individuals–including 34 Georgians–lost their lives in Helene’s devastation.

“We also ask that you consider structuring a portion of this funding in the form of state block grants to ensure our states’ Departments of Agriculture flexibility in efforts to assist our farmers and ranchers, including our specialty crop and timber producers,” continued the lawmakers.

Earlier this month, Senator Warnock joined Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) in calling on Senate leadership to hold a vote on the disaster assistance funding request submitted by the White House to help Georgia farmers. This echoed Senator Warnock’s efforts with Thom Tillis (R-NC) calling for a vote to immediately provide immediate relief to Georgia farmers in October.  

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text can be read below:

Dear Colleagues,

We write to request an agriculture supplemental disaster package that meets the needs of farmers and ranchers in Georgia and Florida following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as natural disasters occurring in 2023 and 2024.

As you are aware, both of our states have been heavily impacted by natural disasters over the last two years, leaving farmers and ranchers with decimated crops and wrangled infrastructure. Most recently, Georgia’s cotton, pecan, and timber crops were flattened by Hurricane Helene, and Florida’s citrus and vegetable crops were devasted after Hurricane Milton.

As these storms blew through our states, they left billions of dollars in damage in their wake. Georgia’s Department of Agriculture estimates producers will need $7.15 billion to make up for damage caused by recent disasters, while Florida’s Department of Agriculture puts damage estimates between $500 and $800 million for Hurricane Helene and $1.5 and $2.5 billion just for Hurricane Milton. As you negotiate a disaster supplemental package, we urge you to include sufficient funding to meet the needs of producers in our states. We also ask that you consider structuring a portion of this funding in the form of state block grants to ensure our states’ Departments of Agriculture flexibility in efforts to assist our farmers and ranchers, including our specialty crop and timber producers.

Sincerely,

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