Farmers and forest landowners in parts of Tennessee affected by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for assistance through new federal grants that will be administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). According to the Department of Agriculture, the grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and managed at the state level to help address agricultural and timber losses not covered by other federal disaster assistance programs or insurance.
The grants are intended to address losses related to infrastructure, economic impacts, market disruptions, and farm production. Assistance is designated for producers in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties, which were included in the expedited major disaster declaration following Hurricane Helene. State officials reported that the declaration enabled damage assessments and coordination efforts to begin quickly. In a statement, Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt acknowledged the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Rollins in providing disaster assistance to affected farmers and forest landowners.
The reported $34 million in federal funding is part of the $30 billion American Relief Act of 2025. The funding is intended to support the local agricultural economy in areas affected by Hurricane Helene, addressing the losses experienced by farmers and forest landowners.
Eligible applicants may receive funding for up to 90% of verified losses, depending on the total funds available and the number of applications submitted. The amount of assistance awarded will be determined by the program’s funding limits and demand. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture stated that information on the application process will be provided in the coming weeks and will be shared through the TDA website and social media channels.
For more information or updates on the relief fund, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture recommends visiting the TDA Ag Recovery webpage.
