Weathered But Strong Fund Provides Relief for Farmers and Cattlemen

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Over 40 agricultural organizations in Georgia have come together to help farmers and cattlemen across the state recover from their losses as a result of Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene was the third named storm to hit the state of Georgia in 13 months and wreaked the most havoc on agricultural land throughout the state. Prior to the hurricane, the United States Department of Agriculture was expecting a $6.5 billion decrease in the net farm income across the nation in 2024, as the net farm income had declined $35.6 billion in 2023 because of inflation, high input costs, and lower commodity prices. Now, after the Hurricane, the Georgia Department of Agriculture estimates that the storm caused at least a $6.46 billion loss for farmers across the state. In an effort to help farmers through this devastation and damages to crops, livestock, and farm infrastructure, over 40 agricultural organizations – such as the University of Georgia Extension Agency, Georgia Future Farmers of America, Georgia Young Farmers Association, Georgia 4-H, and more – came together to create the Weathered But Strong Fund. This fund utilizes donations by individuals and businesses throughout the state to help farmers offset the cost of the crops and equipment which was destroyed in the storm.

Several sponsors have given to the fund, including: • Farm Bureau Insur ance, AgGeorgia Farm Credit, and Verizon, who each gave $100,000 or more to the cause • AGCO Agriculture Foundation and We Care by Zyn, who each gave between $50,000 and $99,000 to the cause • Farm Bureau Geor gia, QuikTrip, Magnolia Loom, Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission, Georgia System Operators, and Georgia EMC, who each gave between $25,000 and $49,000 to the cause • Atlanta Braves Foun dation, Barrow County Farm Bureau, Community Foundation of Central Georgia Inc., Charter Communications, Gulfstream, Henry County Farm Bureau, MAR-JAC Poultry Inc., Newton County Farm Bureau, Peyton Anderson Foundation, and Southern Belle Farms, who each gave between $10,000 and $24,000 to the cause • Consolipex, Elbert County Farm Bureau, Georgia Association Conservation Districts, Georgia Development Authority, Homer T. McMichael, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Lynn Patillo Cohen, OrthoGeorgia, Silicon Ranch, Southwest Georgia Feeder Cattle Marketing Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Valerie Heburn and David Hayes, Wellington, William R. Rountree, and Wilbur Taft, who each gave between $5,000 and $9,000 to the cause To be eligible for this financial assistance, farmers must have a current valid GATE card number issued through the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Farmers and cattlemen in Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler Counties are all encouraged to apply, as priority is given to those within the disaster zone.

Applications may be found online at the fund’s website, supportgeorgiafarmers. org. All applications should be submitted by midnight on December 31, 2024. Applications will be reviewed throughout January 2025, and payouts will begin in February 2025.