New bipartisan, bicameral effort urges the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to quickly publish clear guidelines on administering disaster relief aid for farmers, including farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene
Farmers from vulnerable agriculture communities that were hit hard by these recent natural disasters are at risk of greatly downsizing or having to shut down their operations if the agricultural disaster relief funding is not fully accessible in the upcoming months
Clear direction and quick action from the USDA on disaster payment structure would provide certainty and, in many cases, a lifeline for farmers to continue their operations
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation also supported the effort
Senators Reverend Warnock, Budd to USDA: “These natural disasters have caused irreparable damage to commodity and specialty crops, livestock, forestlands, and infrastructure, leaving farmers, ranchers, and foresters in desperate need of support. As the backbone of rural America, our workers in the agriculture and forestry industries desperately need access to the emergency funding Congress provided”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) urged the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to quickly publish clear guidelines on administering disaster relief aid for farmers. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers highlighted the importance of USDA efficiently deploying the $20.78 billion in agriculture disaster relief aid to critical areas across the nation, especially in the Southeast. The losses from recent storms, including Hurricane Helene, have created a financial burden on an already fragile agriculture economy. In 2023, farm income dropped by $34.6 billion from the previous year, and in 2024, farm income dropped another $8.2 billion. This, coupled with the projected U.S. farm trade deficit to hit $49 billion in fiscal year 2025, has left farmers facing difficult financial conditions under which to renew lines of credit for this year’s growing season.
“We write to further urge an expedited rulemaking process for the agricultural disaster relief funding provided by Congress this past December. Following the destruction caused by recent natural disasters, including the catastrophic damages caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, our agricultural producers are heavily relying on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to efficiently and fairly disperse this assistance. As you know, these natural disasters have caused irreparable damage to commodity and specialty crops, livestock, forestlands, and infrastructure, leaving farmers, ranchers, and foresters in desperate need of support. As the backbone of rural America, our workers in the agriculture and forestry industries desperately need access to the emergency funding Congress provided,” the lawmakers said.
Since coming to Congress, Senator Warnock has continuously worked to provide and strengthen federal support for communities impacted by extreme weather events, and he has championed legislation to help Georgians defend against the worst consequences of severe weather: the Senator previously introduced the bipartisan Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, to help farmers replace trees lost to severe weather with more resilient varieties, as well as the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act to help survivors of natural disasters access housing assistance. Following Senator Warnock’s persistent efforts, in December 2024 Congress passed legislation including $100 billion in disaster assistance for Georgians and Americans recovering from Hurricane Helene and other recent natural disasters, as well as tens of millions in additional assistance for Georgia commodity farmers.
In addition to Senators Warnock and Budd, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Justice (R-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). The bipartisan effort is also a bicameral effort being led in the House of Representatives by Congressmembers Chuck Edwards (R-NC) and Don Davis (D-NC). Additional Congressmembers signing onto the effort include David Rouzer (R-NC), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), Tim Moore (R-NC), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Brad Knott (R-NC), Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Austin Scott (R-GA), Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-GA), Buddy Carter (R-GA), David Scott (D-GA), Rick Allen (R-GA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Scott Franklin (R-FL).
Read the full letter text HERE and below:
Dear Secretary Rollins,
Congratulations on your confirmation as the next United States Secretary of Agriculture. We appreciate your recent comments underscoring your commitment to providing farmers with economic relief and disaster aid payments. We write to further urge an expedited rulemaking process for the agricultural disaster relief funding provided by Congress this past December. Following the destruction caused by recent natural disasters, including the catastrophic damages caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, our agricultural producers are heavily relying on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to efficiently and fairly disperse this assistance. As you know, these natural disasters have caused irreparable damage to commodity and specialty crops, livestock, forestlands, and infrastructure, leaving farmers, ranchers, and foresters in desperate need of support. As the backbone of rural America, our workers in the agriculture and forestry industries desperately need access to the emergency funding Congress provided.
Our nation’s agricultural producers are thankful for the $110 billion disaster relief package that has been signed into law, and it is critical that the USDA efficiently deploys the $20.78 billion in agriculture disaster relief aid to critical areas across the nation, especially in the Southeast. These losses have created an immediate financial burden on an already fragile agriculture economy. Over the past two years, farm income has dropped drastically. In 2023, farm income dropped by $34.6 billion from the previous year, and in 2024, farm income dropped another $8.2 billion. This, coupled with the projected U.S. farm trade deficit to hit $49 billion in fiscal year 2025, has left farmers facing difficult financial conditions under which to renew lines of credit for this year’s growing season.
Producers from vulnerable agriculture communities that were hit hard by these recent natural disasters are at risk of greatly downsizing or having to shut down their operations if the agricultural disaster relief funding is not fully accessible in the upcoming months. Clear direction and quick action from the USDA on disaster payment structure would provide certainty and, in many cases, a lifeline for farmers to continue their operations. Lack of clarity in the rulemaking process for natural disaster programs will prevent many farmers from fully utilizing the aid.
We appreciate the USDA’s focus on this urgent matter. As you continue your role as the Secretary of Agriculture, we respectfully ask that you work to create transparent rulemaking in order to provide our producers a clear understanding of how to access these critical funds. We stand ready to collaborate with you and your team at the USDA to maximize the positive impact of this vital aid.
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